🔗 Share this article

On Wednesday, this new ownership entity revealed the hiring of Van Ginhoven, the English national team's managerial lead under head coach Sarina Wiegman, to serve as their global women's football operations director. The new collective club ownership initiative, with Bay FC of San Francisco as its first club among its holdings, has a history in recruiting from the English FA.

The hiring earlier this year of Kay Cossington, the influential previous technical director at the Football Association, to the CEO role acted as a signal of intent from Bay Collective. Cossington is deeply familiar with the women's game inside out and now has put together a management group with profound insight of the history of women's football and filled with experience.

Van Ginhoven is the third key figure of Wiegman's coaching team to leave this year, with Cossington exiting prior to the European Championships and the assistant manager, Veurink, leaving to take up the role of head manager of the Netherlands, however her move was made earlier.

Moving on has been a jarring experience, yet “I had decided to exit the national setup some time back”, Van Ginhoven explains. “The terms lasting four years, similar to Arjan and Sarina had. Upon their extension, I had expressed I wasn't sure if I would do the same. I had grown accustomed to the thought that after the European Championship my time with England would end.”

The Euros became a deeply felt event due to that. “I remember very clearly, vividly, discussing with the head coach where I basically told her of my choice and then we said: ‘We share a single dream, how amazing would it be to clinch the European title?’ Generally, it’s not like hopes materialize frequently but, remarkably, it actually happened.”

Sitting in an orange T-shirt, she has divided loyalties after her time working in England, during which she contributed to claiming two Euros in a row and served on the coaching setup for the Netherlands’ triumph in the 2017 European Championship.

“The English side will forever have a dear spot in my heart. So, it will be challenging, notably since that the players are scheduled to come for national team duty in the near future,” she comments. “Whenever the two nations face off, who do I support? Right now I'm in Dutch colors, but tomorrow it’s white.”

A speedboat allows for rapid direction changes. In a small team like this, it's effortless to accomplish.

The American side was not part of the equation as the management specialist determined it was time to move on, however everything aligned opportunely. Cossington began assembling the team and their shared values proved essential.

“Almost from the very first moment we connected we experienced an instant connection,” says Van Ginhoven. “We were instantly aligned. We've discussed extensively about different things concerning growing the sport and the methods we believe are correct.”

Cossington and Van Ginhoven are among several to uproot themselves from well-known positions in Europe's football scene for an uncharted opportunity across the Atlantic. Atlético Madrid’s women’s technical director, Patricia González, has been announced as the group's new global sporting director.

“I was highly interested in the deep faith of the power of the women’s game,” González explains. “I have known Kay Cossington for many years; during my tenure at Fifa, she served as England's technical director, and such choices are straightforward knowing you will have around you people who really inspire you.”

The profound understanding among their staff distinguishes them, says Van Ginhoven, as Bay Collective one of several fresh club ownership ventures that have started lately. “It's a standout feature of our approach. Different approaches are acceptable, but we definitely believe in incorporating football expertise,” she adds. “Each of us have been on a journey in women’s football, probably for the best part 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, built on proven methods for the diverse needs of female athletes. Achieving this, with collective agreement, without having to justify actions for why you would take certain actions, is incredibly freeing.

“I liken it to transitioning from a tanker to a speedboat,” remarks Van Ginhoven. “You are essentially navigating through waters that there are no roadmaps for – a common Dutch expression, not sure how it comes across – and it's necessary to trust your individual understanding and experience to make the right decision. You can change direction and move quickly in a speedboat. In a lean group like this, that is simple to achieve.”

She continues: “Here, we have a completely white sheet of paper to build upon. Personally, our mission involves shaping the sport on a wider scale and that clean start enables you to pursue any direction you choose, following the sport's regulations. This is the appeal of what we are building together.”

The aspirations are significant, the executives are expressing sentiments athletes and supporters hope to hear and it will be compelling to observe the evolution of the collective, the club and future additions to the group.

To get a sense of future plans, which elements are crucial in a high-performance setting? “{It all starts and ends with|Everything begins and concludes with|The foundation and culmination involve