By Wolfgang Jenewein (Founder of JENEWEIN AG)
A Coach Making History
Since Sunday, the Bundesliga has its first female head coach in Marie-Louise Eta. It fills me with pride to say that this courageous decision goes back to my brother-in-law Horst Heldt and Union Berlin’s president Dirk Zingler. In doing so, the two of them have made history not only in Germany, but across Europe’s top five leagues.
The reactions? Divided. Experts and players like Alexandra Popp celebrated the decision. Lothar Matthäus asked: “Why shouldn’t women take on important positions in men’s football?” At the same time, sexist comments and doubts about her competence flooded social media.
Prejudices Are Older Than the Facts
On the subject of competence: Eta won the Champions League as a player, claimed three Bundesliga titles, and worked her way up quietly and consistently as a coach — from Werder’s youth academy to Union’s U19. She also previously served as assistant coach of the senior professional team. Many will now argue that this was “only women’s football” and mostly “only” youth football as a coach. But this is precisely where the problem begins. In research, this phenomenon is called the “glass ceiling.” Stereotypical expectations and unconscious bias prevent women from reaching positions dominated by men.
What Horst Heldt and Dirk Zingler did is groundbreaking. Not because Eta is a woman. But because, in a moment of pressure during a relegation battle, they chose the best person available for the job, in their view. No ifs or buts.
A Decision With Wider Reach Than One Might Think
The door is now open. For many more women who must prove themselves just as their male colleagues do — no less, but no more either. And at some point, that will simply be the norm: no more headlines about the “first woman,” no double explanations, no special discussions. Just the 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 merely conformity