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This past Wednesday, the Bay Collective group disclosed the recruitment of Anja van Ginhoven, the English national team's general manager working with head coach Sarina Wiegman, taking on the role of overseer of worldwide women's football activities. The freshly established multi-team ownership group, featuring the San Francisco-based Bay FC as its inaugural team within its group, has prior experience in hiring individuals from the national football governing body.

The appointment in recent months of Kay Cossington, the prominent former FA technical director, as the chief executive was a demonstration of ambition from Bay Collective. Cossington is deeply familiar with women’s football thoroughly and currently has gathered an executive team that possesses extensive knowledge of women’s football history and laden with professional background.

She becomes the third core member of the manager's inner circle to leave recently, following the chief executive departing before the European Championships and deputy manager, Arjan Veurink, moving on to assume the position of head manager of Holland, however her move came sooner.

Stepping away proved to be a surprising shift, yet “My choice was made to leave the FA some time back”, Van Ginhoven states. “My agreement lasting four years, just as Arjan and Sarina had. When they renewed, I had expressed I wasn't sure if I would do the same. I had accepted the notion that post-Euros I would no longer be involved with the national team.”

The Euros became a deeply felt event because of this. “I recall distinctly, speaking with Sarina when I disclosed of my choice and then we said: ‘There’s just one dream, what a triumph it would represent to clinch the European title?’ In life, it's rare that hopes materialize frequently but, remarkably, it actually happened.”

Wearing a Netherlands-colored shirt, Van Ginhoven experiences split allegiances following her stint with the English team, during which she contributed to winning back-to-back European titles and was a part of Wiegman’s staff for the Netherlands’ triumph in the 2017 European Championship.

“The English side retains an emotional connection for me. So, it’s going to be tough, notably since that the team are scheduled to come for the upcoming fixtures soon,” she says. “In matches between England and the Netherlands, where do my loyalties lie? I’m wearing orange at the moment, though tomorrow English white.”

You can change direction and move quickly in a speedboat. In a small team like this, that’s easily done.

Bay FC was not in the plans as the management specialist determined that a new chapter was needed, but everything aligned perfectly. Cossington began assembling the team and mutual beliefs proved essential.

“Essentially upon meeting we met we felt immediate synergy,” remarks Van Ginhoven. “We were instantly aligned. Our conversations have been thorough 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 prominent roles in the European game for an uncharted opportunity in the US. Atlético Madrid’s women’s technical director, González, has been announced as the organization's worldwide sports director.

“I felt strongly drawn to that strong belief regarding the strength of women's football,” González explains. “I'm familiar with Cossington for a long time; when I used to work at Fifa, she was the technical director of England, and such choices are straightforward knowing you'll be working alongside individuals who motivate you.”

The profound understanding in their team makes them unique, says she, with Bay Collective among a number new multi-club initiatives that have started over the past few years. “That’s one of our unique selling points. Different approaches are acceptable, however we strongly feel in having that football knowledge on board,” she says. “Each of us have traveled a path in women’s football, throughout our careers.”

As outlined on their site, the mission for the collective is to support and lead a forward-thinking and durable system for women's football clubs, founded on effective practices addressing the different demands of women. Achieving this, with everyone on the same page, without having to justify actions for specific initiatives, provides great freedom.

“I equate it to moving from a large ship to a fast boat,” remarks Van Ginhoven. “You’re basically driving through waters that there are no roadmaps for – a common Dutch expression, not sure how it comes across – and you must depend on your individual understanding and experience to make the right decision. You can pivot and accelerate rapidly with a speedboat. In a small team like this, it's straightforward to accomplish.”

González continues: “With this opportunity, we start with a blank slate to build upon. For me, our mission focuses on impacting football more extensively and that clean start allows you to do whatever you want, within the rules of the game. That is the advantage of our collective project.”

The aspirations are significant, those in leading roles are voicing opinions players and fans are eager to hear and it will be fascinating to monitor the progress of Bay Collective, Bay FC and any clubs added to the portfolio.

As a preview of upcoming developments, 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