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Midweek, the Bay Collective group revealed the hiring of Anja van Ginhoven, England's general manager under head coach Sarina Wiegman, taking on the role of overseer of worldwide women's football activities. This new collective club ownership initiative, featuring San Francisco’s Bay FC as the initial addition among its holdings, has prior experience in recruiting from the English FA.

The hiring in recent months of Kay Cossington, the well-respected previous technical director at the Football Association, as top executive served as a demonstration of ambition from the collective. Cossington knows women’s football inside out and now has gathered a management group with profound insight of the evolution of the women's game and laden with practical experience.

Van Ginhoven becomes the third core member of the manager's inner circle to depart in the current year, with Cossington leaving prior to the Euros and deputy manager, Arjan Veurink, stepping down to take up the role of head manager of the Dutch national team, however Van Ginhoven's choice came sooner.

Moving on was a jarring experience, yet “My choice was made to leave the FA some time back”, Van Ginhoven states. “I had a contract covering four years, just as the assistant and head coach did. When they renewed, I had already said I wasn't sure whether I would. I had grown accustomed to the thought that post-Euros I would no longer be involved with the national team.”

The tournament became a sentimental event as a result. “I remember very clearly, vividly, having a conversation with Wiegman when I disclosed about my decision and we then remarked: ‘There’s just one dream, how amazing would it be to clinch the European title?’ In reality, dreams don't dreams come true often yet, against the odds, ours came true.”

Dressed in orange, Van Ginhoven experiences split allegiances following her stint working in England, where she was part of securing consecutive European championships and served on Wiegman’s staff during the Dutch victory the 2017 Euros.

“England will always hold a special place in my heart. So, it will be challenging, especially with the knowledge that the players will be arriving for the upcoming fixtures in the near future,” she comments. “When England plays the Netherlands, which side do I back? Right now I'm in Dutch colors, but tomorrow I'll be in white.”

A speedboat allows for rapid direction changes. With a compact team such as ours, that’s easily done.

The American side was not in the plans when the management specialist concluded that a new chapter was needed, however everything aligned perfectly. The chief executive started to bring people in and mutual beliefs were crucial.

“Essentially upon meeting we met we felt immediate synergy,” remarks she. “You’re immediately on the same level. We have spoken at length on various topics around how you grow the game and the methods we believe are correct.”

These executives are not alone 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, González, has been announced as the organization's new global sporting director.

“I was very attracted by the firm conviction in the potential of women's football,” she explains. “I've been acquainted with Kay Cossington for an extended period; during my tenure at Fifa, she was the technical director of England, and decisions like this come naturally when you know you will have around you colleagues who drive you.”

The extensive expertise in their team sets them apart, explains Van Ginhoven, for the collective among a number recent multi-team projects that have started in recent years. “This is a key differentiator for us. Different approaches are acceptable, but we are firm in our belief in ensuring deep football understanding,” she says. “Each of us have been on a journey in women’s football, for most 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 addressing the different demands of women in sport. Doing that, with everyone on the same page, without having to justify actions regarding certain decisions, is incredibly freeing.

“I liken it to transitioning from a tanker to a speedboat,” remarks Van Ginhoven. “You’re basically driving across unmapped territories – as we say in the Netherlands, not sure how it comes across – and you just need to rely on your personal insight and skills for making correct choices. You can change direction and move quickly with a speedboat. Within a compact team such as ours, that is simple to achieve.”

She adds: “With this opportunity, we have a completely white sheet of paper to build upon. For me, our mission focuses on impacting football on a wider scale and that white paper permits you to undertake anything you desire, following the sport's regulations. That’s the beauty of our collective project.”

The ambition is high, those in leading roles are expressing sentiments athletes and supporters hope to hear and it will be compelling to monitor the progress of the collective, Bay FC and future additions to the group.

To get a sense of future plans, which elements are crucial for a top-level environment? “{It all starts and ends with|Everything begins and concludes with|The foundation and culmination involve