German football club Union Berlin has announced the dismissal of head coach Steffen Baumgart and his assistants Danilo de Souza and Kevin McKenna. The temporary leadership of the first team has been entrusted to Maria Luisa Ett, a move described as historic in European football. This appointment is a precedent, as Maria Luisa Ett has become the first woman to lead a men's team in a major European league. The club's arrangements for her future continue, with her scheduled to take over as the coach of Union Berlin's women's team at the start of next summer after her temporary role with the men's team concludes. The club's management stated in an official statement that the change in coaching staff came under the pressure of negative results that have weighed heavily on the team in the second half of the season amidst a direct fight to escape the danger zone in the German league table. The team has only won two of its last 14 matches since the winter break, prompting the club to make an immediate change in search of a new beginning before the crucial rounds. Union Berlin is going through a critical period, and the club's sporting director, Horst Hilde, commented: "We have had a very disappointing second half of the season, and we will not allow ourselves to be deceived by our position in the table. Our situation is still dangerous, and we urgently need points to ensure survival." He added: "We have only won two out of 14 games since the winter break, and the performance in recent weeks does not give us confidence in our ability to turn things around with the current squad, so we decided on a new beginning." Maria Luisa Ett has taken over the task immediately to lead the team in the final stages of the season as Union Berlin seeks to secure its place in the top division amid continued pressure at the bottom of the table. She said: "Given the point difference in the lower half of the table, our position in the Bundesliga is still not safe. I am happy that the club has given me this difficult task."
