Sexist abuse of Union Berlin boss ’embarrassing’
Sexist abuse of Union Berlin boss ’embarrassing’
Union Berlin’s director of football, Horst Heldt, has criticized the “insane” sexist comments directed at newly appointed head coach Marie-Louise Eta, calling the backlash “embarrassing.” Eta, who has been leading the club’s Under-19s team since July, is making history as the first woman to manage a men’s squad in one of Europe’s top five leagues. Her appointment as interim coach of the Bundesliga side has already sparked online criticism, with some social media users targeting her with gender-based remarks.
“It’s just embarrassing. I’ve noticed it, but I also refuse to read or even just expose myself to that kind of nonsense because for me this is about quality—leadership quality,” Heldt remarked. “We have 100% confidence in Loui—complete conviction. I find it insane that we have to deal with this in this day and age.”
Heldt emphasized that the club is fully behind Eta’s decision, stating that everyone within Union, from fans to staff, supports her leadership. “We’re talking about a highly competent leader here, and you can be sure that everyone here at Union stands 100% behind this decision,” he added. “Our aim is to ensure this doesn’t lead to any further discussion in the future.”
Before her promotion to head coach, Eta served as Union Berlin’s first female assistant coach in November 2023. She gained recognition in January 2024 when she led the team to a 1-0 victory over Darmstadt while acting as manager during Nenad Bjelica’s three-match suspension, becoming the first woman to take charge of a Bundesliga team from the touchline.
Etta, a former Germany youth international and Women’s Champions League winner with Turbine Potsdam, will oversee Union Berlin’s women’s team this summer. Heldt noted that her transition to head coach is smooth, citing her “great run” with the U19s as evidence of her readiness. “She doesn’t need to be shown the ropes here—she knows it all. She understands the stadium, the atmosphere, the people, and, above all, the players,” he said. “We’re convinced that a head coach can only truly be a head coach if they’ve held that role before, which is why she is the logical next step.”
Union Berlin, currently 11th in the 18-team Bundesliga, are 11 points ahead of the automatic relegation zone with five matches remaining. However, their 2026 campaign has seen just two league wins in 14 outings. Heldt confirmed Eta will lead her first training session on Tuesday, highlighting her rapid grasp of the situation.