Reflecting on a remarkable 13-year tenure, former Chelsea head of women's football Paul Green recently admitted that the scale of his achievements only truly registered after he departed the club. During his time with the Blues, Green forged a tremendously successful partnership with former manager Emma Hayes, collecting a staggering 19 major trophies along the way.

The glittering haul included six consecutive Women's Super League titles, establishing the London club as an undisputed powerhouse in domestic football. The era of dominance also featured a memorable run to the Women's Champions League final in 2021. Such was the relentless pace of their success that Green accumulated a vast collection of medals, leaving the majority tucked away in a simple box beneath his bed.

Green's long association with Chelsea came to an abrupt end in February amid reports of internal friction among the club's leadership. Reflecting on his departure, he noted that the organisation ultimately decided to pursue a different path. However, he expressed immense pride in leaving the club in a far stronger position than when he first arrived.

Following his exit, Green took a seven-month hiatus from the sport to spend quality time with his family and process an overwhelming volume of supportive messages from across the women's football community. During this downtime, he finally took the opportunity to properly organise and frame his extensive collection of medals. The break ended in September when he accepted a new challenge across the Atlantic as the chief football officer for San Francisco-based club Bay FC.

Transitioning away from a structured routine he had maintained for over a decade proved challenging at first. Yet, Green was quickly drawn to the ambitious project presented by Bay FC, which operates under the Bay Collective multi-club ownership group and features former FA director Kay Cossington. He noted that the club's vision and growth potential shared striking similarities with the early formative days at Chelsea.

Bay FC currently sits near the bottom of the National Women's Soccer League standings with three matches remaining in the 2026 season. With the club scheduled to move into brand-new training facilities next year, Green is wasted no time focusing on immediate improvements. Drawing on a two-decade network of contacts, he plans to be active in the upcoming transfer window to strengthen the current roster.

Alongside player recruitment, Green is dedicated to establishing strong operational infrastructure behind the scenes, encompassing both staffing and facilities. He remains confident that a solid foundation combined with strategic additions will help propel the team upward. Looking forward, the experienced administrator is eager to channel his winning pedigree into building another lasting legacy in California.

Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC Sport. Read the original report at BBC Sport.