The day that saw Marie-Louise Eta step onto the sidelines of the Bundesliga as the first-ever assistant coach is long since passed; however, it only marks the climax of the woman’s journey. Yankee Scores looks back at the woman who has become one of the most influential figures within the world of German football.

Her experience on the field has helped Eta establish herself as one of the brightest football minds in Europe. Before being appointed the first-ever assistant coach in the Bundesliga, she has won the Champions League and the Bundesliga thrice, having started her professional career at 18 and playing for Turbine Potsdam.

A Champion’s Foundation

She was forced to retire at the age of 26 due to injuries. However, she did not leave football behind but became a coach. Despite her impressive playing record, Eta’s path towards the top was not paved with roses. In order to achieve the status of an assistant coach, she had to climb up all the way. From the bottom through Germany’s national football organization DFB’s youth leagues, she acquired a Pro license, which is considered the most prestigious qualification in Europe.

The Silent Transition

The appointment came at a crucial time for both the club and the football community as a whole. Eta’s influence allowed the team to stabilize the situation in one of the most challenging years for the locker room.

The Critical Question

Outside of the tactics table, is men’s football ready to have a female coach? Only time can tell whether Eta’s experiment was worth all the attention it has drawn. If anything, success can lead the door wide open for other women, and failure will mean the opposite.