BERLIN, April 18 (Reuters) - Union Berlin slumped to a 2-1 home loss against relegation-threatened VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday, condemning their new manager Marie-Louise Eta, the Bundesliga's first woman head coach, to a losing debut on the bench.
Eta, the club's former Under-19 coach appointed as interim manager last week following the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart, will lead the men’s first team until the end of the campaign before moving to the club’s women’s side.
She became the first female assistant coach in the German top flight with Union in 2023 but her appointment this time has triggered derogatory social media comments, which have been condemned by the club.
"First of all I am disappointed to have lost this game at home but approve of the waywe played," Eta told a press conference.
The hosts were far more aggressive with 27 efforts towards goal compared to the Wolves' five.
"We talked about a lot of things during the week and today it was about focusing on the essential thing which is football. I was happy to have coached this game at the Alte Foersteri stadium but at the end of the day we are disappointed," Eta said.
"We had a large number of chances but just that small touch, that last step, was missing. I am convinced if we keep fighting like that we will get other results."
Patrick Wimmer put the relegation-threatened Wolves ahead in the 11th minute before Dzenan Pejcinovic doubled their lead a minute after halftime.
Union pulled a goal back through Oliver Burke following a quick break in the 86th minute but could not find an equaliser.
Union are 11th on 32 while Wolfsburg moved up to 24 points in 17th place.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Ed Osmond and Clare Fallon)
