First female coach in German men's pro leagues leaves Ingolstadt

Sabrina Wittmann, the first woman to be a head coach in Germany's men's professional leagues, has left Ingolstadt after a disappointing start to the third-tier season.

Wittmann was appointed in May 2024 and later saw Marie-Louise Eta take temporary charge at Union Berlin in the men's Bundesliga. 

"I would have very much liked to continue and to keep going down this path with a team full of extraordinary characters," the 35-year-old said in a club statement on Thursday. 

"Unfortunately, the trust is no longer there for that and the club have decided on a different solution."

The Bavarians are 13th in the table after seven matchdays and have lost three of their last four league matches. 

Managing director Harald Gartner said an "intensive review of developments across seasons and the results so far in the third-division campaign" had led to the separation. 

"On a human and personal level, this decision has been very difficult for us," Gartner said, having extended her contract only in March.

Wittmann previously acknowledged in a podcast that she had felt the pressure of being a pioneer in German football. 

"To be honest, it was a bit heavier than I thought it would be," she said.