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On Wednesday, this new ownership entity revealed the recruitment of Van Ginhoven, England's general manager under head coach Sarina Wiegman, taking on the role of overseer of worldwide women's football activities. The freshly established multi-team ownership group, with the San Francisco-based Bay FC as the inaugural team within its group, has prior experience in recruiting from the English FA.

The selection earlier this year of Kay Cossington, the well-respected ex-technical director for the FA, as top executive was a clear statement from the collective. Cossington understands women’s football inside out and now she has assembled a management group with a deep understanding of the history of women's football and filled with practical experience.

She is the third core member of the manager's inner circle to exit this year, following Cossington leaving prior to the European Championships and the assistant manager, Arjan Veurink, stepping down to become manager of the Dutch national team, however her move was made earlier.

Stepping away has been a jarring experience, yet “I’d taken my decision to depart the Football Association quite a long time ago”, Van Ginhoven explains. “I had a contract lasting four years, just as Veurink and Wiegman did. Upon their extension, I had already said I didn’t know if I would do the same. I was already used to the whole idea that following the tournament my time with England would end.”

The tournament became an emotional event because of this. “I remember very clearly, vividly, discussing with the head coach where I basically told her of my choice and after which we agreed: ‘We share a single dream, how amazing would it be to clinch the European title?’ In life, it's rare that dreams come true often yet, absolutely incredibly, this one did.”

Sitting in an orange T-shirt, Van Ginhoven experiences split allegiances after her time in England, where she helped achieve winning back-to-back European titles and worked within the manager's team during the Dutch victory the 2017 Euros.

“The English side will always hold a special place in my heart. So, it will be difficult, especially with the knowledge that the team are due to arrive for national team duty in the near future,” she comments. “When England plays the Netherlands, which side do I back? I’m wearing orange at the moment, but tomorrow I'll be in white.”

In a speedboat, you can pivot and accelerate swiftly. In a small team like this, that’s easily done.

The club was not in the plans as the organisational wizard concluded it was time to move on, however everything aligned at the right time. The chief executive started to bring people in and their shared values were crucial.

“Virtually from the start we connected we experienced an instant connection,” remarks she. “There was immediate understanding. We've discussed extensively on various topics related to developing women's football and the methods we believe are correct.”

The two leaders are not alone to uproot themselves from high-profile jobs within European football for a blank sheet of paper across the Atlantic. Atlético Madrid’s women’s technical director, González, has been announced as the organization's new global sporting director.

“I felt strongly drawn to that strong belief of the power of women's football,” she comments. “I've been acquainted with Kay Cossington for many years; during my tenure at Fifa, she was the technical director of England, and it’s easy to make these decisions knowing you'll be working alongside people who really inspire you.”

The depth of knowledge in their team distinguishes them, explains Van Ginhoven, for the collective among a number recent multi-team projects which have emerged lately. “This is a key differentiator for us. Various methods are valid, but we are firm in our belief in having that football knowledge on board,” she states. “Each of us have traveled a path in female football, probably for the best part of our lives.”

As outlined on their site, the goal for the collective is to champion and pioneer an advanced and lasting environment of women’s football clubs, built on proven methods to meet the varied requirements of women in sport. Achieving this, with collective agreement, without having to justify actions for why you would take certain actions, is incredibly freeing.

“I liken it to going from a tanker to a speedboat,” says Van Ginhoven. “You're journeying through waters that there are no roadmaps for – that’s a Dutch saying, not sure how it comes across – and you must depend on your personal insight and skills to make the right decision. You can pivot and accelerate rapidly with a speedboat. In a lean group like this, that is simple to achieve.”

González continues: “With this opportunity, we have a completely white sheet of paper to build upon. Personally, our mission involves shaping the sport on a much broader level and that clean start permits you to undertake anything you desire, following the sport's regulations. That is the advantage of our joint endeavor.”

The ambition is high, those in leading roles are voicing opinions athletes and supporters want to hear and it will be compelling to follow the development of this organization, the club and other teams that may join.

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