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Midweek, Bay Collective disclosed the recruitment of Anja van Ginhoven, the English national team's general manager working with Sarina Wiegman, to serve as their director of global women’s football operations. The new multi-team ownership group, with Bay FC of San Francisco as its initial addition in its portfolio, has a history in hiring individuals from the Football Association.

The selection in recent months of Kay Cossington, the well-respected former FA technical director, to the CEO role was a signal of intent from the collective. She knows the women's game inside out and now has gathered a management group with a deep understanding of the evolution of the women's game and laden with practical experience.

She is the third key figure of Wiegman’s setup to leave recently, with Cossington departing before the European Championships and assistant coach, Arjan Veurink, leaving to assume the position of head coach of Holland, but Van Ginhoven's choice came sooner.

Leaving proved to be a jarring experience, yet “I had decided to exit the national setup some time back”, she states. “My agreement for four years, similar to Arjan and Sarina had. Upon their extension, I had already said I didn’t know whether I would. I had accepted the notion that following the tournament I would no longer be involved with the national team.”

The tournament turned into a sentimental tournament as a result. “It's sharp in my memory, speaking with the head coach in which I informed her of my choice and after which we agreed: ‘Our ultimate aspiration, how incredible it would be if we were to win the European Championship?’ In reality, it's rare that dreams come true frequently however, remarkably, ours came true.”

Wearing a Netherlands-colored shirt, she holds dual affections post her tenure in England, where she helped achieve claiming two Euros in a row and was a part of the coaching setup during the Dutch victory in the 2017 European Championship.

“England will always hold a special place in my heart. So, it will be difficult, notably since that the players are scheduled to come for the international camp soon,” she notes. “In matches between England and 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. In a small team like this, it's effortless to accomplish.

Bay FC was not in the plans as the organisational wizard was deciding that a new chapter was needed, however the pieces fell into place perfectly. Cossington initiated the recruitment and mutual beliefs proved essential.

“Virtually from the start we got together we had that click moment,” states she. “There was immediate understanding. We have spoken at length regarding multiple aspects related to developing women's football and what we think is the right way.”

The two leaders are not the only figures to relocate from high-profile jobs within European football for a fresh start in the United States. Atlético Madrid’s technical director for women's football, González, has been introduced as Bay Collective’s new global sporting director.

“I felt strongly drawn by the firm conviction of the power of women's football,” she says. “I'm familiar with Cossington for an extended period; back when I was with Fifa, she was the technical director of England, and decisions like this come naturally when you know you are going to be surrounded by people who really inspire you.”

The depth of knowledge among their staff sets them apart, says she, for the collective among a number new multi-club initiatives to launch in recent years. “That’s one of our unique selling points. Different approaches are acceptable, but we definitely believe in ensuring deep football understanding,” she adds. “The entire leadership have been on a journey in female football, throughout our careers.”

As their website states, the ambition of this group is to advocate and innovate an advanced and lasting environment of women’s football clubs, founded on effective practices to meet the varied requirements of women. Doing that, with collective agreement, eliminating the need for persuasion regarding certain decisions, is incredibly freeing.

“I compare it with moving from a large ship to a fast boat,” says Van Ginhoven. “You are essentially navigating across unmapped territories – that’s a Dutch saying, I'm unsure if it translates well – and it's necessary to trust your personal insight and skills to make the right decision. You can pivot and accelerate rapidly with a speedboat. In a lean group like this, it's straightforward to accomplish.”

She adds: “In this role, we have a completely white sheet of paper to work from. Personally, what we do focuses on impacting football on a much broader level and that blank slate enables you to pursue any direction you choose, adhering to football's guidelines. This is the appeal of our collective project.”

The ambition is high, the executives are expressing sentiments athletes and supporters hope to hear and it will be interesting to monitor the progress of this organization, Bay FC and any clubs added to the portfolio.

For a flavour of what is to come, which elements are crucial of a high-performance environment? “{It all starts and ends with|Everything begins and concludes with|The foundation and culmination involve