Union Berlin rule out permanent men’s head coach role for Marie-Louise Eta

The plan remains for Marie-Louise Eta to take over 1. FC Union Berlin's women's team regardless of how she performs during her spell as interim coach of the men's side, according to club president Dirk Zingler.

(Photo by Reinaldo Coddou H./Getty Images

1. FC Union Berlin president Dirk Zingler has effectively ruled out the possibility of Marie-Louise Eta taking over as head coach of the men’s team on a permanent basis.

Just two weeks after signing a contract to become the club’s women’s head coach from next season, Eta was appointed interim coach of the men’s team for the remainder of the campaign, replacing Steffen Baumgart following his sacking.

Since then, questions have been raised over whether Eta could remain in charge of the men’s team beyond the summer instead of moving to the women’s side. However, such a move appears to be out of the question.

“Marie-Louise Eta will be in charge here for five matches and after that she will take over the women’s team,” club president Dirk Zingler told Sky.

“It's always a professional, football-related decision as to who coaches which team, and by accompanying this discussion in that way, we are doing her and women’s football in general a disservice,” Zingler said.

“Marie-Louise Eta signed a contract for the women’s Bundesliga two weeks ago with full conviction – we both did.”

Union face VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday in Eta's first game in charge.