Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterFour Four TwoGet FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member features.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.You are now subscribedYour newsletter sign-up was successfulWant to add more newsletters?Five times a weekFourFourTwo DailyFantastic football content straight to your inbox! From the latest transfer news, quizzes, videos, features and interviews with the biggest names in the game, plus lots more.Signup +Once a week...And its LIVE!Sign up to our FREE live football newsletter, tracking all of the biggest games available to watch on the device of your choice. Never miss a kick-off!Signup +Join the clubGet full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in.Subscribe to our newsletterBundesliga side Union Berlin have made history after appointing Marie-Louise Eta as their new head coach.They are the first club in Europes top five leagues to have a female head coach, with Eta taking the job on an interim basis until the end of the season.She had previously been the clubs assistant, also making history as the first female to hold that role across Europes top five leagues. You may like Tottenham Hotspur's best signing of 2025/26 hailed by Spurs board after WSL turnaround Women's Football Quiz, episode 1: Matildas heroes and League Cup finals RANKED! The 10 best British managers in football right now England manager Sarina Wiegman said of the appointment: "It's great. She's a trailblazer and I think this was a matter of time anyway."Congratulations to her and Berlin. It's exciting. It shows that again football is moving up.Get VIP Lionesses tickets HERE with Seat UniqueWatching the Lionesses live is an unforgettable way to experience top-tier football from one of the world's best teams, and the hospitality offerings are truly world-class. Whether you choose a private box or an exclusive lounge, you'll enjoy a VIP entrance, premium padded seating with exceptional views, and high-quality dining that ranges from relaxed handheld offerings to refined four-course set menus. It is the ultimate matchday experience for families and fans alike.View Deal"There's women in society everywhere and the next step is also in football, male and female."There will be plenty of interest in Etas progress with Union Berlin in the coming weeks, with her first Bundesliga game at home to Wolfsburg on Saturday.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.The 34-year-old trailblazer, who previously served as the club's assistant coach and U19 manager, steps in for the final five matches of the season following the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart.It serves as a landmark appointment marking a defining moment for representation in football as Eta prepares to guide the club through a critical relegation battle before transitioning to lead Union's women's team this summer.But which other mens professional clubs have been led by female head coaches? FourFourTwo takes a look. What to read next Alex Scott says Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United's Champions League displays are perfect WSL advert Im ready to lead a group as a manager now Ive had six or seven years to find my voice as a coach, and I have belief in myself New Cesena boss Ashley Cole has exclusively told FourFourTwo why its the right time for him to become a gaffer Women's Football Quiz, episode 2: Higher or lower than 400? Sabrina Wittmann (FC Ingolstadt 04, 2024)Eta is not the first woman to have led a mens team in Germany. That was achieved by Sabrina Wittman, who took charge of FC Ingolstadt in the third tier in 2024 on an interim basis and then was given the job permanently.Wittmann, just 34, is still with Ingolstadt, and has a win percentage of 34.78% at the time of writing.Its OK to be the first woman, Im really proud of it, but in the end I want to be a good coach, I want to be a good manager, I want to be a good human being towards my players, she said in a recent interview with The Guardian. Its about how you want to be seen, not just about being the first.Hannah Dingley (Forest Green Rovers, 2023)There has been no female head coach of a Premier League team yet, but Forest Green made history in 2023 when they appointed Hannah Dingley on an interim basis.It was a brief stint in July and Dingley did not take charge of any games for the then League Two club, but it was still a significant moment.It was a very simple decision, said Forest Green owner Dale Vince. Hannah was the most qualified person at the club for the job. Nothing else came into frame.She was replaced by David Horseman, before returning to her role as head of academy. She has since gone on to work for the Irish national team and Manchester City.Corinne Diacre (Clermont Foot, 20142017)For longevity, Corinne Diacre is perhaps the most impressive of the female coaches to have taken charge of mens teams.The forthright 51-year-old spent three seasons with Ligue 2 side Clermont Foot from 2014 to 2017, before going on to manage Frances women and Marseille women.TOPICSUnion BerlinBundesligaCallum Rice-CoatesCallum is a football writer who has had work published by the likes of BBC Sport, the Independent, BT Sport and the Blizzard, amongst various others. A lifelong Wrexham fan, he is hoping Ryan Reynolds can lead his hometown club to the promised land.
