Annexed Scotland striker fires timely World Cup reminder in historic match for female coach

Union Berlin lost 2-1 at home to relegation-threatened VfB Wolfsburg at Stadion An der Alten Försterei in what was the first match for their new head coach Marie-Louise Eta.

It was a historic occasion for Eta, as she became the first female head coach to preside over a top-flight match in the “big five” leagues (England, Italy, Spain, Germany and France). She has been put in charge of Union Berlin until the end of the season following the departure of Steffen Baumgart.

Eta was unable to coax a result out of Union Berlin, who are in 11th place and six points clear of the drop zone. They are on a poor run of form, having won just once in their last seven outings.

Burke started up front for Union Berlin for the third match in a row and scored an 86th-minute consolation after the visitors had moved into a 2-0 lead earlier in the match.

It was Burke’s sixth goal of the season and a reminder of what he could offer to Scotland ahead of this summer’s World Cup. The 29-year-old has won 13 caps for his country, but has not featured for the national team since 2020 and is not currently in favour with head coach Steve Clarke.

Scotland are due to name a provisional 55-man squad for the World Cup next month and there is clamour for Burke to be included. The Kirkcaldy-born forward has played for a number of clubs, including a brief loan spell at Celtic in 2019, and scored a hat-trick for Union Berlin against Eintracht Frankfurt earlier in the season.

Union Berlin have four matches remaining this season and Burke will look to strengthen his case for a return to the international set-up.

Eta, a 34-year-old former midfielder, will be in charge for those games - but she has already been told that she will return to her original role as head coach of the Union Berlin women’s team for the 2026/27 campaign.

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