Key Takeaways
- Marie-Louise Eta is the first woman to coach a men’s side in Europe’s top-five leagues.
- Union Berlin lost 2-1 at home to struggling Wolfsburg in her opening match.
- Massimiliano Allegri says he will not take the Italy national-team post.
Union Berlin’s new interim boss Marie-Louise Eta made football history on Saturday, yet her landmark debut on the Bundesliga touchline ended in disappointment as relegation-battling Wolfsburg left the Stadion An der Alten Försterei with a 2-1 win.
The 34-year-old former Germany international became the first female head coach of a men’s team among Europe’s leading five leagues after the Berlin club dismissed Steffen Baumgart last weekend. Her side started nervously and fell behind after only 11 minutes when Patrick Wimmer slotted home.
Wolfsburg, second from bottom before kick-off, struck again 60 seconds into the second half. Ex-Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen teed up Dzenan Pejcinovic to double the visitors’ lead. Scottish forward Oliver Burke pulled one back for Union late on, but the hosts could not find an equaliser.
Meanwhile, Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Italy job. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Serie A trip to Hellas Verona, the 56-year-old said: “I don’t change clubs often; it’s not in my DNA.” Allegri had been tipped as a possible successor to Gennaro Gattuso after the Azzurri missed a third straight World Cup.