Union Berlin, where South Korea national team player Jeong Wooyoung (27) plays, made a historic decision. For the first time in Europe's five major leagues, a woman will be given the helm of a men's professional team.
Union Berlin announced on the club website on the 12th (Korean time), "Union has parted ways with coach Steffen Baumgart. Coach Mariluise Etta will take charge of the team. Currently the under-19 (U-19) team coach and the next women's professional team coach, Mariluise Etta will lead the team in the season's final Bundesliga relegation battle," the club said in an official statement.
Union Berlin lost 1-3 to FC Heidenheim in the 2025-2026 Bundesliga 29th round held at the Voith-Arena in Heidenheim, Germany, on the 11th. As a result, their ranking fell to 11th. They have 32 points, only seven points ahead of relegation zone side FC St. Pauli (16th) with 25 points.
Although Union Berlin had been aiming for European competition qualification, they have fallen into serious poor form with only two wins in 14 second-half matches. Ultimately, the club leadership decided to part ways with coach Baumgart and coaches Danilo de Souza and Kevin McKenna.
Instead, coach Etta was appointed as a firefighting manager and will lead Union for the remaining five matches. She is an elite coach who, during her playing career, experienced league titles and the UEFA Women's Champions League (UWCL) title with German powerhouse Turbine Potsdam.
After retiring from playing in 2018, coach Etta gained experience in men's football through roles with Werder Bremen's youth teams and German age-group national team coaching positions. She attracted attention in 2023 when she was appointed Union Berlin's first female senior coach in the Bundesliga. While managing Union Berlin's U-19 team, she has been given the heavy responsibility of leading the men's first team to avoid relegation.
Appointed as interim coach, Etta said, "Considering the point differences among the lower-ranked teams, Bundesliga survival is not yet secured. I am pleased the club entrusted me with this difficult task. Union's strength is that everyone pulls together in situations like this. And of course I believe we can take important points with the team."
Etta will lead the men's team only until the end of this season. Sporting director Horst Heldt said, "We are having a very disappointing second half. Do not be fooled by our current position. Our situation is still precarious, and we urgently need points to stay up. We did not feel confident that the current setup could change the trend, so we decided to make a new start now," adding, "We are pleased that Etta has agreed to take on this interim task. She will take charge of the women's professional team as planned in the summer."
With this appointment, the 'forbidden wall' for women managers in Europe's five big leagues has fallen. Etta becomes the first female coach in history to lead an adult men's first team across the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A and French Ligue 1.
Previously, female coaches such as Corinne Diacre, Hannah Dingley and Sabrina Vaitl have taken charge of professional clubs' men's first teams. However, none were in the top division. Diacre took the helm at Clermont in France's Ligue 2 in 2014, and Dingley briefly managed Green Gully in England's fourth tier in 2023.
Now a female coach has taken charge of a club in one of Europe's five major leagues. Italian outlet Di Marzio said, "A historic coaching change has taken place in Germany. For the first time, the coaching role has been given to a woman. It's a surprising choice and the first case of a female coach taking the bench in one of Europe's five major leagues," adding, "Now it's Etta's turn to prove this trust once again."
Meanwhile, Jeong Wooyoung will also help Union Berlin in their bid to stay up alongside coach Etta. Regularly appearing between the starting lineup and the bench, he has scored three goals and provided one assist in the Bundesliga this season. His official match record including cup competitions is four goals and one assist.
[Photo] ©Gettyimages (unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), Union Berlin social media.
[OSEN]