Former Chelsea Women’s Football Executive Brings Proven Experience to the Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO (Sept. 21, 2026) – Bay FC today announced the appointment of Paul Green as the club’s new Chief Football Officer. Green joins Bay FC following a distinguished tenure with Chelsea FC Women, where he held senior leadership roles including general manager and, most recently, head of women’s football. Green will report to Kay Cossington, Chief Executive Officer of Bay Collective and head of global women’s football at Sixth Street, where she oversees sporting operations and strategic development for Bay FC.
Green brings more than two decades of experience in the women’s game. Before joining Chelsea in 2013, he spent seven years with Doncaster Rovers Belles, serving as assistant manager and club secretary. At Chelsea, Green held concurrent responsibilities as assistant manager and general manager before later solely becoming Head of Women’s Football, all while developing deep experience across coaching, player recruitment, squad planning and football operations. Across his 13-year tenure, he helped steer Chelsea through an era of sustained dominance that yielded 19 trophies, including eight league titles and six Women’s FA Cups. His leadership was instrumental in building one of global football’s elite environments and maintaining competitive excellence at both the domestic and European levels.
“I’m delighted to join Bay FC at such an exciting stage in the club’s development,” Green said. “What attracted me to this club was the ambition, the vision and the opportunity to help shape its next chapter. The foundations here are solid, and we have a tremendous opportunity to develop something special and build a team that the Bay Area and our fans can be proud of. I’m really looking forward to working closely with Kay, Emma and the wider football staff to keep building an ambitious squad that can compete consistently at the highest level.”
At Bay FC, Green will lead all of the club’s football operations including the club’s roster strategy and football operations staff. Working in close partnership with Head Coach Emma Coates and the technical staff, Green will build a team tailored to the club’s playing identity, competitive ambitions, and long-term vision, in addition to day-to-day football operations for the Club.
“Paul is an exceptional football leader whose experience, standards and understanding of what it takes to build a winning environment will be invaluable to Bay FC,” said Kay Cossington, CEO of Bay Collective. “He has been part of sustained success and understands how to bring together recruitment, player development, performance and culture in service of a clear football vision. Paul will be a key partner for Emma as we shape a roster that maximizes her strengths as a coach, reflects the way we want Bay FC to play and gives us the foundation to build a championship-caliber team.”
“We’re thrilled to welcome Paul to Bay FC,” said Bay FC President Bernard Gutmann. “Paul shares our ambition to build something special both on and off the pitch, support our players at the highest level and establish a foundation for long-term success. I’m looking forward to working closely with him and the rest of our team as we continue building Bay FC’s next chapter.”
Green’s appointment underscores Bay FC’s commitment to assembling a best-in-class football operation capable of competing at the highest level in the NWSL. His experience in player identification, squad planning and building high-performance environments will help the club make strategic roster decisions while developing a sustainable pathway for emerging and established talent.
“Our focus will be on building a team with a strong identity, a winning mentality and the depth and quality required to compete for championships, whilst giving our players the support and environment they need to reach their full potential,” Green said. “It’s about creating the right culture, establishing clear standards and ensuring everyone is aligned behind a shared ambition.”
Bay FC head coach Emma Coates brings a player-centered, performance-driven approach shaped by her experience developing elite talent and creating clear, adaptable playing systems. Green will work alongside Coates to align recruitment and roster construction with that approach while identifying players who can thrive within Bay FC’s style of play and contribute to a cohesive, resilient team culture.
The appointment marks another important step in Bay FC’s effort to establish a sustainable standard of excellence on and off the field.
