Since Sunday, the Bundesliga has had its first female head coach in Marie-Louise Eta. It fills me with pride to say that this bold decision goes back to my brother-in-law Horst Heldt and Dirk Zingler, the president of 1. FC Union Berlin. With this move, they have made history not only in Germany but across Europe’s top five leagues.
The reactions? Divided. Experts and players like Alexandra Popp praised the decision. Lothar Matthäus asked, “Why shouldn’t women take on important positions in men’s football?” At the same time, social media was flooded with sexist comments and doubts about her competence.
As for her competence, just this much: Marie-Louise Eta won the Champions League as a player, secured three Bundesliga titles, and worked her way up quietly and consistently as a coach—from Werder’s youth academy to Union’s U19 team. She has also already served as an assistant coach for the first team of the “Iron Ones.” Many will now argue that this was “only women’s football” and, as a coach, mostly “just” youth football. But that is exactly where the problem begins.
In research, this phenomenon is known as the “glass ceiling.” Stereotypical expectations and unconscious biases prevent (in this case) women from advancing into positions traditionally dominated by men.
What Horst Heldt and Dirk Zingler have done is groundbreaking. Not because Marie-Louise Eta is a woman—but because, in a moment of pressure during a relegation battle, they chose the best available person for the job in their view. No ifs, no buts.
The door is now open—for many more women who will have to prove themselves just like their male counterparts: no less, but no more. And at some point, that will become the norm—no more headlines about the “first woman,” no more double explanations, no more special debates. Just the one question that should always have been the only one: Is she the right person for the job?
Such a decision promotes diversity, creates role models, and shows that real progress rewards leaders who bring performance and vision—not mere conformity.
This post was published by Wolfgang Jenewein on April 13, 2026, on LinkedIn. Zum Original-Beitrag