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Midweek, this new ownership entity disclosed the hiring of Anja van Ginhoven, England's managerial lead working with head coach Sarina Wiegman, taking on the role of director of global women’s football operations. This new multi-team ownership group, featuring the San Francisco-based Bay FC as its initial addition among its holdings, has previously engaged in recruiting from the English FA.

The hiring in recent months of Cossington, the influential previous technical director at the Football Association, as the chief executive acted as a clear statement by Bay Collective. She knows female football inside out and currently has put together a management group that possesses extensive knowledge of the history of women's football and laden with professional background.

Van Ginhoven is the third key figure of Wiegman’s setup to leave recently, with Cossington exiting before the Euros and deputy manager, Veurink, leaving to take up the role of manager of Holland, however Van Ginhoven's choice came sooner.

Stepping away was a surprising shift, but “My choice was made to depart the Football Association some time back”, Van Ginhoven explains. “I had a contract covering four years, just as Arjan and Sarina did. Upon their extension, I had expressed I was uncertain if I would do the same. I was already used to the notion that after the European Championship I would no longer be involved with the national team.”

The Euros was an emotional event due to that. “I remember very clearly, vividly, speaking with the head coach in which I informed her of my choice and then we said: ‘We share a single dream, how amazing would it be if we were to win the European Championship?’ In reality, it's rare that hopes materialize frequently but, against the odds, ours came true.”

Sitting in an orange T-shirt, she holds dual affections after her time working in England, where she helped achieve claiming two Euros in a row and served on Wiegman’s staff during the Dutch victory in the 2017 European Championship.

“The national team retains an emotional connection for me. So, it will be challenging, notably since that the players are scheduled to come for national team duty soon,” she says. “Whenever the two nations face off, which side do I back? Today I have on orange, but tomorrow I'll be in white.”

In a speedboat, you can pivot and accelerate swiftly. In a lean group like this one, it's effortless to accomplish.

The club was not initially considered when the strategic expert was deciding it was time to move on, but the pieces fell into place perfectly. Cossington began assembling the team and mutual beliefs proved essential.

“Virtually from the start we connected we experienced an instant connection,” says Van Ginhoven. “You’re immediately on the same level. Our conversations have been thorough regarding multiple aspects around how you grow the game and our shared vision for the right approach.”

These executives are not alone to uproot themselves from prominent roles within European football for a fresh start in the US. The Spanish club's female football technical lead, Patricia González, has been introduced as the organization's new global sporting director.

“I was very attracted by the firm conviction in the potential of women's football,” she says. “I have known Kay Cossington for many years; back when I was with Fifa, she was the technical director of England, and such choices are straightforward when you know you'll be working alongside colleagues who drive you.”

The profound understanding in their team sets them apart, says Van Ginhoven, with Bay Collective part of a group fresh club ownership ventures to launch over the past few years. “This is a key differentiator for us. Various methods are valid, however we strongly feel in incorporating football expertise,” she adds. “The entire leadership have traveled a path in female football, for most of our lives.”

As outlined on their site, the ambition of Bay Collective is to advocate and innovate a forward-thinking and durable system for women's football clubs, built on proven methods to meet the varied requirements of female athletes. Doing that, with unified understanding, with no need to make the case for why you would take certain actions, is incredibly freeing.

“I equate it to going from a tanker to a speedboat,” says she. “You are essentially navigating across unmapped territories – as we say in the Netherlands, not sure how it comes across – and it's necessary to trust your own knowledge and expertise to make the right decision. You can change direction and move quickly in a speedboat. In a lean group like this, that’s easily done.”

González continues: “Here, we begin with a clean canvas to work from. For me, our mission focuses on impacting football more extensively and that white paper permits you to undertake whatever you want, following the sport's regulations. That’s the beauty of what we are building together.”

The ambition is high, the management are saying the things the football community want to hear and it will be fascinating to monitor the progress of this organization, the team and other teams that may join.

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