🔗 Share this article

Midweek, this new ownership entity revealed the recruitment of Van Ginhoven, the English national team's managerial lead under Sarina Wiegman, taking on the role of director of global women’s football operations. This new multi-team ownership group, with San Francisco’s Bay FC as the first club in its portfolio, has previously engaged in hiring individuals from the English FA.

The hiring earlier this year of Cossington, the well-respected ex-technical director for the FA, as top executive served as a signal of intent by this organization. Cossington knows women’s football inside out and now has gathered a management group that possesses extensive knowledge of the evolution of the women's game and packed with professional background.

She becomes the third key figure of the manager's inner circle to depart in the current year, following Cossington exiting prior to the Euros and assistant coach, Arjan Veurink, leaving to assume the position of head coach of Holland, but her decision came sooner.

Moving on was a jarring experience, yet “I’d taken my decision to exit the national setup well in advance”, Van Ginhoven says. “The terms covering four years, exactly like Veurink and Wiegman had. As they re-signed, I had expressed I didn’t know if I would do the same. I had grown accustomed to the notion that post-Euros my time with England would end.”

The European Championship was an emotional tournament as a result. “I recall distinctly, speaking with Wiegman in which I informed her regarding my plans and after which we agreed: ‘We share a single dream, how amazing would it be that we win the Euros?’ Generally, it’s not like hopes materialize often yet, against the odds, ours came true.”

Sitting in an orange T-shirt, she holds dual affections after her time with the English team, during which she contributed to winning back-to-back European titles and was a part of Wiegman’s staff during the Dutch victory at Euro 2017.

“The national team will forever have a special place in my heart. Therefore, it’s going to be tough, especially with the knowledge that the team are due to arrive for the upcoming fixtures soon,” she comments. “In matches between England and the Netherlands, who do I support? Right now I'm in Dutch colors, but tomorrow I'll be in white.”

In a speedboat, you can pivot and accelerate swiftly. With a compact team such as ours, that’s easily done.

The American side was not initially considered when the management specialist determined that it was time for a change, however the pieces fell into place at the right time. Cossington started to bring people in and mutual beliefs were crucial.

“Virtually from the start we got together we had that click moment,” remarks she. “You’re immediately on the same level. We have spoken at length about different things concerning growing the sport and what we think is the right way.”

Cossington and Van Ginhoven are not the only figures to make a move from high-profile jobs in the European game for a blank sheet of paper across the Atlantic. Atlético Madrid’s female football technical lead, Patricia González, has been unveiled as the organization's global sporting director.

“I was highly interested in the deep faith of the power of the women’s game,” she comments. “I'm familiar with Cossington for a long time; when I used to work at Fifa, she served as England's technical director, and such choices are straightforward when you are aware you are going to be surrounded by individuals who motivate you.”

The extensive expertise among their staff sets them apart, says she, for the collective among a number fresh club ownership ventures that have started over the past few years. “It's a standout feature of our approach. Different approaches are acceptable, but we are firm in our belief in incorporating football expertise,” she says. “All three of us have been on a journey in women’s football, probably for the best part of our lives.”

As outlined on their site, the goal for the collective is to champion and pioneer a progressive and sustainable ecosystem of women’s football clubs, based on what works to meet the varied requirements of women in sport. Achieving this, with everyone on the same page, eliminating the need for persuasion for specific initiatives, provides great freedom.

“I equate it to moving from a large ship to a fast boat,” remarks she. “You are essentially navigating through waters that there are no roadmaps for – as we say in the Netherlands, I don’t know if it translates – and it's necessary to trust your personal insight and skills to make the right decision. Adjusting course and speeding up is possible with a speedboat. In a lean group like this, that’s easily done.”

She notes: “Here, we start with a blank slate to work from. For me, our mission is about influencing the game on a much broader level and that blank slate allows you to do whatever you want, following the sport's regulations. That’s the beauty of our joint endeavor.”

Their goals are lofty, the executives are saying the things the football community hope to hear and it will be fascinating to follow the development of Bay Collective, the club and future additions to the group.

For a flavour of what is to come, 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