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On Wednesday, the Bay Collective group revealed the recruitment of Van Ginhoven, the English national team's general manager under head coach Sarina Wiegman, taking on the role of global women's football operations director. The new multi-team ownership group, which includes the San Francisco-based Bay FC as its first club within its group, has prior experience in bringing in talent from the English FA.

The hiring earlier this year of Cossington, the prominent former FA technical director, as the chief executive acted as a demonstration of ambition by Bay Collective. Cossington knows women’s football comprehensively and now she has assembled an executive team with profound insight of women’s football history and packed with experience.

She is the third key figure of the manager's inner circle to leave this year, following the chief executive exiting before Euro 2025 and deputy manager, Veurink, leaving to become manager of the Netherlands, but Van Ginhoven's choice came sooner.

Moving on has been a surprising shift, yet “I had decided to leave the FA some time back”, Van Ginhoven explains. “The terms for four years, exactly like Veurink and Wiegman had. When they renewed, I had already said I was uncertain about renewing myself. I had grown accustomed to the notion that following the tournament my time with England would end.”

The Euros turned into a deeply felt tournament because of this. “It's sharp in my memory, discussing with Sarina where I basically told her about my decision and after which we agreed: ‘There’s just one dream, how amazing would it be to clinch the European title?’ In life, dreams don't hopes materialize often but, against the odds, ours came true.”

Dressed in orange, she experiences split allegiances post her tenure working in England, where she was part of claiming two Euros in a row and was a part of the coaching setup during the Dutch victory in the 2017 European Championship.

“The national team retains an emotional connection for me. Therefore, it will be difficult, notably since that the team will be arriving for the international camp soon,” she notes. “When England plays the Netherlands, who do I support? I’m wearing orange at the moment, but tomorrow I'll be in white.”

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

The club was not in the plans as the organisational wizard determined that a new chapter was needed, but the pieces fell into place perfectly. The chief executive initiated the recruitment and their shared values proved essential.

“Essentially upon meeting we met we felt immediate synergy,” remarks Van Ginhoven. “We were instantly aligned. We have spoken at length regarding multiple aspects around how you grow the game and our shared vision for the right approach.”

These executives are not the only figures to make a move from high-profile jobs within European football for a fresh start in the US. The Spanish club's female football technical lead, Patricia González, has been unveiled as the organization's worldwide sports director.

“I was very attracted by the firm conviction of the power within the female sport,” she comments. “I have known Kay Cossington for a long time; during my tenure at Fifa, she served as England's technical director, and decisions like this come naturally knowing you will have around you people who really inspire you.”

The profound understanding within their group distinguishes them, notes she, with Bay Collective one of several fresh club ownership ventures which have emerged in recent years. “That’s one of our unique selling points. Various methods are valid, but we definitely believe in incorporating football expertise,” she states. “Each of us have traveled a path within the women's game, throughout our careers.”

According to their online statement, the ambition of Bay Collective is to advocate and innovate an advanced and lasting environment within female football clubs, built on proven methods addressing the different demands of women in sport. Succeeding in this, with collective agreement, without having to justify actions for specific initiatives, is incredibly freeing.

“I compare it with going from a tanker to a speedboat,” remarks Van Ginhoven. “You're journeying across unmapped territories – that’s a Dutch saying, I don’t know if it translates – and you just need to rely on your personal insight and skills for making correct choices. Adjusting course and speeding up is possible in a speedboat. In a lean group like this, it's straightforward to accomplish.”

González continues: “With this opportunity, we start with a blank slate to build upon. Personally, what we do is about influencing the game more extensively and that white paper 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 management are voicing opinions athletes and supporters are eager to hear and it will be fascinating to monitor the progress of this organization, Bay FC and any clubs added to the portfolio.

As a preview of upcoming developments, what are the key aspects for a top-level environment? “{It all starts and ends with|Everything begins and concludes with|The foundation and culmination involve