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On Wednesday, Bay Collective disclosed the appointment of Anja van Ginhoven, the English national team's general manager under head coach Sarina Wiegman, taking on the role of director of global women’s football operations. The new multi-team ownership group, featuring the San Francisco-based Bay FC as the inaugural team among its holdings, has a history in hiring individuals from the national football governing body.

The appointment this year of Kay Cossington, the well-respected previous technical director at the Football Association, to the CEO role was a demonstration of ambition from this organization. Cossington understands the women's game inside out and now has gathered a leadership team with a deep understanding of women’s football history and laden with practical experience.

She marks the third central staffer of the manager's inner circle to exit this year, with the chief executive exiting before Euro 2025 and assistant coach, Arjan Veurink, stepping down to assume the position of manager of Holland, however her decision came sooner.

Leaving was a jarring experience, yet “My choice was made to exit the national setup well in advance”, she explains. “I had a contract covering four years, just as the assistant and head coach had. As they re-signed, I had already said I wasn't sure whether I would. I was already used to the whole idea that post-Euros I wouldn’t be part of England any more.”

The tournament became an emotional event as a result. “I recall distinctly, having a conversation with Wiegman where I basically told her regarding my plans and then we said: ‘We share a single dream, how amazing would it be that we win the Euros?’ Generally, dreams don't hopes materialize every day yet, against the odds, this one did.”

Wearing a Netherlands-colored shirt, she holds dual affections after her time with the English team, where she helped achieve claiming two Euros in a row and was a part of Wiegman’s staff for the Netherlands’ triumph the 2017 Euros.

“The national team retains a special place in my heart. So, it will be challenging, especially with the knowledge that the squad are due to arrive for the international camp shortly,” she comments. “In matches between England and the Netherlands, who do I support? I’m wearing orange at the moment, though tomorrow English white.”

In a speedboat, you can pivot and accelerate swiftly. In a small team like this, it's effortless to accomplish.

The American side was not in the plans as the strategic expert was deciding that a new chapter was needed, but everything aligned opportunely. The chief executive started to bring people in and common principles were key.

“Virtually from the start we met we felt immediate synergy,” says she. “You’re immediately on the same level. We've discussed extensively about different things concerning growing the sport and our shared vision for the right approach.”

Cossington and Van Ginhoven are not the only figures to uproot themselves from high-profile jobs in the European game for a fresh start in the US. The Spanish club's technical director for women's football, Patricia González, has been announced as the group's new global sporting director.

“I was highly interested in the deep faith regarding the strength of women's football,” González says. “I have known Kay Cossington for many years; during my tenure at Fifa, she was the technical director of England, and it’s easy to make these decisions knowing you will have around you people who really inspire you.”

The depth of knowledge among their staff sets them apart, notes Van Ginhoven, with Bay Collective one of several recent multi-team projects which have emerged lately. “This is a key differentiator for us. It’s OK that people do things in different ways, however we strongly feel in ensuring deep football understanding,” she says. “Each of us have traveled a path in women’s football, probably for the best part of our lives.”

According to their online statement, the ambition of this group is to champion and pioneer an advanced and lasting environment of women’s football clubs, based on what works for the diverse needs of women. Succeeding in this, with unified understanding, without having to justify actions regarding certain decisions, is hugely liberating.

“I liken it to transitioning from a tanker to a speedboat,” remarks she. “You're journeying across unmapped territories – a common Dutch expression, I don’t know if it translates – and you must depend on your own knowledge and expertise to make the right decision. You can change direction and move quickly with a speedboat. In a lean group like this, that is simple to achieve.”

González notes: “Here, we begin with a clean canvas to start with. Personally, our work is about influencing the game on a wider scale and that white paper enables you to pursue any direction you choose, adhering to football's guidelines. That is the advantage of our collective project.”

Their goals are lofty, the executives are expressing sentiments players and fans want to hear and it will be fascinating to observe the evolution of this organization, Bay FC and any clubs added to the portfolio.

For a flavour of what is to come, what factors are essential for a top-level environment? “{It all starts and ends with|Everything begins and concludes with|The foundation and culmination involve