The Reasons Prominent Executives Prefer US Multi-Club Fast-Moving Over FA Slow-Moving Structures?
On Wednesday, the Bay Collective group revealed the hiring of Anja van Ginhoven, the English national team's general manager under Sarina Wiegman, taking on the role of overseer of worldwide women's football activities. This new multi-team ownership group, which includes the San Francisco-based Bay FC as its initial addition within its group, has prior experience in hiring individuals from the English FA.
The hiring earlier this year of Cossington, the prominent former FA technical director, as the chief executive acted as a clear statement by this organization. Cossington is deeply familiar with the women's game inside out and now has put together a management group that possesses extensive knowledge of the history of women's football and laden with professional background.
She is the third central staffer of Wiegman’s setup to depart recently, with Cossington departing prior to the Euros and assistant coach, Arjan Veurink, moving on to become head coach of Holland, but Van Ginhoven's choice arrived more quickly.
Moving on proved to be a surprising shift, yet “I had decided to leave the FA some time back”, she states. “The terms covering four years, similar to the assistant and head coach had. As they re-signed, I previously indicated I didn’t know if I would do the same. I was already used to the notion that following the tournament I would no longer be involved with the national team.”
The Euros became an emotional competition due to that. “I recall distinctly, speaking with Wiegman where I basically told her regarding my plans and we then remarked: ‘There’s just one dream, what a triumph it would represent if we were to win the European Championship?’ In reality, it’s not like aspirations are realized frequently yet, remarkably, it actually happened.”
Wearing a Netherlands-colored shirt, she has divided loyalties post her tenure with the English team, where she helped achieve claiming two Euros in a row and was a part of Wiegman’s staff when the Netherlands won in the 2017 European Championship.
“The national team will always hold a dear spot in my heart. So, it will be challenging, notably since that the squad will be arriving for the upcoming fixtures shortly,” 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. With a compact team such as ours, that’s easily done.
Bay FC was not in the plans as the strategic expert determined that it was time for a change, but everything aligned perfectly. Cossington started to bring people in and common principles were crucial.
“Essentially upon meeting we met we felt immediate synergy,” says Van Ginhoven. “There was immediate understanding. We've discussed extensively on various topics related to developing women's football and what we think is the right way.”
The two leaders are among several to relocate 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 Bay Collective’s new global sporting director.
“I was very attracted in the deep faith regarding the strength within the female sport,” González says. “I've been acquainted with Kay Cossington for many years; during my tenure at Fifa, she served as England's technical director, and such choices are straightforward knowing you are going to be surrounded by individuals who motivate you.”
The extensive expertise within their group sets them apart, says she, with Bay Collective among a number fresh club ownership ventures which have emerged over the past few years. “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. “The entire leadership have been on a journey in women’s football, probably for the best part of our lives.”
As their website states, the mission of this group is to support and lead a forward-thinking and durable system for women's football clubs, based on what works addressing the different demands of women in sport. Doing that, with collective agreement, without having to justify actions regarding certain decisions, is incredibly freeing.
“I liken it to going from a tanker to a speedboat,” states Van Ginhoven. “You are essentially navigating across unmapped territories – that’s a Dutch saying, I'm unsure if it translates well – and it's necessary to trust your personal insight and skills for making correct choices. You can change direction and move quickly using a speedboat. Within a compact team such as ours, that’s easily done.”
González notes: “Here, we have a completely white sheet of paper to work from. Personally, what we do is about influencing the game on a much broader level and that clean start allows you to do any direction you choose, following the sport's regulations. That is the advantage of our collective project.”
The aspirations are significant, those in leading roles are saying the things athletes and supporters want to hear and it will be fascinating to follow the development of this organization, the club and other teams that may join.
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