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On Wednesday, this new ownership entity revealed the recruitment of Anja van Ginhoven, the English national team's general manager working with head coach Sarina Wiegman, as their overseer of worldwide women's football activities. The new multi-club ownership body, which includes Bay FC of San Francisco as its inaugural team in its portfolio, has a history in bringing in talent from the Football Association.

The hiring this year of Kay Cossington, the influential former FA technical director, to the CEO role acted as a signal of intent from this organization. She knows the women's game comprehensively and currently has gathered a management group with a deep understanding of the history of women's football and filled with experience.

Van Ginhoven marks the third key figure of Wiegman’s setup to leave this year, following Cossington exiting before the European Championships and assistant coach, Arjan Veurink, stepping down to become manager of the Dutch national team, however Van Ginhoven's choice was made earlier.

Stepping away proved to be a shock to the system, but “I’d taken my decision to depart the Football Association quite a long time ago”, she explains. “My agreement lasting four years, similar to Arjan and Sarina had. When they renewed, I had expressed I wasn't sure whether I would. I had accepted the notion that after the European Championship my time with England would end.”

The tournament was an emotional tournament as a result. “I remember very clearly, vividly, having a conversation with the head coach where I basically told her regarding my plans and then we said: ‘There’s just one dream, how incredible it would be to clinch the European title?’ In reality, it's rare that aspirations are realized frequently yet, absolutely incredibly, this one did.”

Sitting in an orange T-shirt, Van Ginhoven has divided loyalties following her stint with the English team, during which she contributed to securing consecutive European championships and was a part of Wiegman’s staff during the Dutch victory in the 2017 European Championship.

“The national team retains a special place in my heart. So, it’s going to be tough, notably since that the team are scheduled to come for national team duty in the near future,” she says. “In matches between England and the Netherlands, which side do I back? Right now I'm in Dutch colors, but tomorrow it’s white.”

A speedboat allows for rapid direction changes. In a lean group like this one, that’s easily done.

The American side was not part of the equation as the organisational wizard concluded that a new chapter was needed, but everything aligned perfectly. Cossington started to bring people in and their shared values were crucial.

“Virtually from the start we connected we had that click moment,” states Van Ginhoven. “You’re immediately on the same level. Our conversations have been thorough about different things concerning growing the sport and our shared vision for the right approach.”

The two leaders are not the only figures to relocate from well-known positions in Europe's football scene for an uncharted opportunity across the Atlantic. Atlético Madrid’s technical director for women's football, González, has been unveiled as Bay Collective’s new global sporting director.

“I felt strongly drawn to that strong belief of the power of the women’s game,” González explains. “I'm familiar with Cossington for an extended period; back when I was with Fifa, she was the technical director of England, and it’s easy to make these decisions when you know you will have around you individuals who motivate you.”

The extensive expertise in their team distinguishes them, explains she, as Bay Collective among a number fresh club ownership ventures that have started lately. “It's a standout feature of our approach. Various methods are valid, however we strongly feel in ensuring deep football understanding,” she states. “All three of us have progressed in women’s football, for most of our lives.”

According to their online statement, the goal of Bay Collective is to support and lead a progressive and sustainable ecosystem within female football clubs, founded on effective practices for the diverse needs of female athletes. Succeeding in this, with collective agreement, with no need to make the case for why you would take certain actions, is hugely liberating.

“I equate it to going from a tanker to a speedboat,” states she. “You’re basically driving across unmapped territories – that’s a Dutch saying, I don’t know if it translates – and it's necessary to trust your personal insight and skills to choose wisely. You can change direction and move quickly with a speedboat. In a lean group like this, that’s easily done.”

González continues: “In this role, we start with a blank slate to work from. In my view, our work focuses on impacting football on a wider scale and that clean start allows you to do anything you desire, following the sport's regulations. That is the advantage of what we are building together.”

The ambition is high, the executives are expressing sentiments players and fans hope to hear and it will be interesting to observe the evolution of Bay Collective, Bay FC and future additions to the group.

To get a sense of future plans, 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