Marie-Louise Eta, who has taken on the role of head coach at Union Berlin-a first for a woman in such a top position in the history of the German Bundesliga-stated that her primary goal is to be regarded for her coaching ability. In a recent issue of “Zeit” and three other European partner media, Eta said, “It never superficially mattered to me to strengthen the role of women; I always wanted to convince through my performance. I want to be seen as a football coach”.
Nevertheless, she recognizes the considerable societal weight of her position. “This creates a responsibility for me, whether I want it or not”.
Eta also indicated that there are no differences in her coaching approach whether working with male or female players. “I am dealing with individuals” she explained. What matters, she stressed, is “what the person standing before me needs to deliver their best performance”.
Reflecting on her own experiences, Eta described facing resistance. She mentioned hearing phrases such as, “Don’t let yourself be outplayed by a girl” since her youth. However, Eta stated that she has since grown thicker-skinned. “But I can defend myself, I can ignore it, and I can shout back” she concluded. She added that in professional sports, everyone must constantly prove themselves regardless.
