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This past Wednesday, Bay Collective revealed the appointment of Anja van Ginhoven, the English national team's general manager working with Sarina Wiegman, as their director of global women’s football operations. This freshly established collective club ownership initiative, which includes Bay FC of San Francisco as the first club among its holdings, has previously engaged in bringing in talent from the English FA.

The hiring earlier this year of Kay Cossington, the well-respected ex-technical director for the FA, as top executive served as a demonstration of ambition by the collective. She knows the women's game thoroughly and now has gathered an executive team with a deep understanding of the evolution of the women's game and filled with experience.

Van Ginhoven marks the third central staffer of Wiegman’s setup to depart recently, following Cossington leaving prior to the Euros and deputy manager, Arjan Veurink, leaving to take up the role of head coach of the Netherlands, however Van Ginhoven's choice came sooner.

Stepping away has been a shock to the system, yet “I’d taken my decision to leave the FA well in advance”, she explains. “My agreement covering four years, just as Veurink and Wiegman did. When they renewed, I previously indicated I was uncertain if I would do the same. I had accepted the whole idea that following the tournament I would no longer be involved with the national team.”

The Euros became an emotional competition as a result. “I remember very clearly, vividly, having a conversation with Wiegman where I basically told her regarding my plans and we then remarked: ‘Our ultimate aspiration, how amazing would it be that we win the Euros?’ Generally, dreams don't aspirations are realized frequently but, against the odds, ours came true.”

Wearing a Netherlands-colored shirt, Van Ginhoven holds dual affections after her time working in England, during which she contributed to claiming two Euros in a row and was a part of Wiegman’s staff when the Netherlands won the 2017 Euros.

“The English side will always hold a special place in my heart. So, it’s going to be tough, particularly now knowing that the players will be arriving for national team duty shortly,” she notes. “When England plays the Netherlands, who do I support? Right now I'm in Dutch colors, but tomorrow I'll be in white.”

You can change direction and move quickly in a speedboat. With a compact team such as ours, that’s easily done.

Bay FC was not part of the equation as the management specialist concluded that it was time for a change, however everything aligned at the right time. The chief executive initiated the recruitment and common principles were key.

“Almost from the very first moment we got together we felt immediate synergy,” states she. “There was immediate understanding. We have spoken at length on various topics related to developing women's football and what we think is the right way.”

These executives are not the only figures to relocate from high-profile jobs in Europe's football scene for an uncharted opportunity in the United States. The Spanish club's women’s technical director, González, has been introduced as Bay Collective’s new global sporting director.

“I was highly interested by the firm conviction of the power of the women’s game,” González comments. “I have known Kay Cossington for a long time; when I used to work at Fifa, she was the technical director of England, and it’s easy to make these decisions when you are aware you are going to be surrounded by colleagues who drive you.”

The profound understanding within their group distinguishes them, explains Van Ginhoven, for the collective one of several 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 ensuring deep football understanding,” she adds. “The entire leadership have been on a journey in women’s football, throughout our careers.”

According to their online statement, the ambition of Bay Collective is to champion and pioneer a forward-thinking and durable system of women’s football clubs, built on proven methods addressing the different demands of women. Doing that, with collective agreement, with no need to make the case regarding certain decisions, provides great freedom.

“I liken it to moving from a large ship to a fast boat,” remarks Van Ginhoven. “You’re basically driving in uncharted waters – as we say in the Netherlands, I'm unsure if it translates well – 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. In a lean group like this, that is simple to achieve.”

She notes: “With this opportunity, we have a completely white sheet of paper to start with. Personally, what we do involves shaping the sport on a much broader level and that blank slate allows you to do anything you desire, within the rules of the game. That’s the beauty of our collective project.”

Their goals are lofty, the executives are voicing opinions athletes and supporters are eager to hear and it will be compelling to monitor the progress of Bay Collective, the team and other teams that may join.

As a preview of upcoming developments, what are the key aspects in a high-performance setting? “{It all starts and ends with|Everything begins and concludes with|The foundation and culmination involve