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Midweek, this new ownership entity revealed the hiring of Van Ginhoven, England's managerial lead working with head coach Sarina Wiegman, to serve as their director of global women’s football operations. The new multi-club ownership body, which includes the San Francisco-based Bay FC as the inaugural team in its portfolio, has prior experience in recruiting from the Football Association.

The hiring earlier this year of Kay Cossington, the well-respected former FA technical director, as top executive acted as a clear statement from this organization. Cossington knows female football inside out and now has put together an executive team with a deep understanding of the evolution of the women's game and filled with practical experience.

She marks the third central staffer of Wiegman’s setup to exit in the current year, with Cossington exiting before the European Championships and deputy manager, Veurink, stepping down to take up the role of manager of the Dutch national team, however her move came sooner.

Leaving was a surprising shift, yet “I had decided to depart the Football Association well in advance”, she explains. “My agreement for four years, similar to Arjan and Sarina had. As they re-signed, I had expressed I was uncertain whether I would. I had accepted the whole idea that following the tournament I would no longer be involved with the national team.”

The European Championship became a sentimental tournament as a result. “It's sharp in my memory, speaking with the head coach when I disclosed regarding my plans and we then remarked: ‘Our ultimate aspiration, how amazing would it be that we win the Euros?’ In reality, dreams don't hopes materialize frequently but, remarkably, it actually happened.”

Wearing a Netherlands-colored shirt, Van Ginhoven has divided loyalties following her stint with the English team, during which she contributed to claiming two Euros in a row and worked within the manager's team when the Netherlands won at Euro 2017.

“The English side will forever have an emotional connection for me. Therefore, it’s going to be tough, particularly now knowing that the squad will be arriving for the international camp in the near future,” she notes. “When England plays the Netherlands, where do my loyalties lie? Right now I'm in Dutch colors, though tomorrow English white.”

In a speedboat, you can pivot and accelerate swiftly. In a small team like this, that is simple to achieve.

The American side was not part of the equation when the strategic expert was deciding that it was time for a change, but the pieces fell into place at the right time. Cossington began assembling the team and common principles were key.

“Virtually from the start we met we experienced an instant connection,” remarks Van Ginhoven. “You’re immediately on the same level. We have spoken at length regarding multiple aspects related to developing women's football and our shared vision for the right approach.”

Cossington and Van Ginhoven are among several to uproot themselves from prominent roles within European football for an uncharted opportunity in the US. Atlético Madrid’s women’s technical director, Patricia González, has been unveiled as the group's new global sporting director.

“I was highly interested to that strong belief regarding the strength of the women’s game,” González comments. “I've been acquainted with Kay Cossington for an extended period; when I used to work at Fifa, she served as England's technical director, and decisions like this come naturally when you know you'll be working alongside colleagues who drive you.”

The extensive expertise among their staff distinguishes them, explains Van Ginhoven, for the collective one of several new multi-club initiatives that have started over the past few years. “That’s one of our unique selling points. Different approaches are acceptable, but we are firm in our belief in having that football knowledge on board,” she says. “Each of us have progressed in women’s football, throughout our careers.”

According to their online statement, the mission of Bay Collective is to support and lead an advanced and lasting environment of women’s football clubs, built on proven methods to meet the varied requirements of women. Succeeding in this, with everyone on the same page, eliminating the need for persuasion regarding certain decisions, is incredibly freeing.

“I compare it with going from a tanker to a speedboat,” states Van Ginhoven. “You're journeying through waters that there are no roadmaps for – as we say in the Netherlands, I'm unsure if it translates well – and you must depend on your own knowledge and expertise for making correct choices. You can pivot and accelerate rapidly with a speedboat. In a small team like this, that is simple to achieve.”

González continues: “In this role, we start with a blank slate to start with. Personally, our work involves shaping the sport more extensively 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 management are expressing sentiments players and fans hope to hear and it will be interesting to follow the development of Bay Collective, the team and future additions to the group.

For a flavour of what is to come, 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