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Turns out Ruben Amorim was able to withstand a loss to lower-league opposition. He weathered a decisive European final versus a particularly poor Spurs sides for many years. He could survive losing at home against domestic rivals, finishing 15th, an unwavering system, squandering some of the club’s best academy products, the 32% win rate, labeling the squad the worst in Manchester United history. But there was a single opponent against whom Ruben Amorim was not permitted to dance. If you challenge Jason Wilcox, you had better succeed.

Regrettably, like many a Premiership right-back in Blackburn’s title-winning campaign, Amorim took on Jason Wilcox and seems to have failed. Even the most casual observer can see the irony here: a manager who often railed his squad for failing in one-on-one duels crumbling when confronted by the white heat and animal charisma of a England's top division's most feared sporting directors.

In truth, this whole painful saga seems to paint Jason Wilcox in a different perspective. It may have been tempting, given his brief stint in a similar role at Southampton, to view Jason Wilcox as merely a functionary within the club's structure: a man who owed his position largely to his friendship with his former boss a fellow executive as any verifiable talent. How wrong we all were. By masterfully outsmarting United’s feted manager, as he outmanoeuvred the unfortunate Dan Ashworth before him, he has proved himself to be among football's true generals: a tactical intellect that the club's competitors are now rightly wary.

A Strategic Clash Over Formation and Ideology

To illustrate, it was the director who being involved in the hierarchy that appointed the 3-4-3 fundamentalist Amorim originally, played a key role in attempting to convince Amorim to ditch his favored 3-4-3. Unsurprisingly, these entreaties met a certain resistance. But perhaps these judgements hold greater authority when issued from the mouth of a man the impeccable soccer background he possesses, a veteran of three England caps and a role in a title-winning side from 31 years ago.

Maybe eventually he might agree to explain his thought processes publicly. Perhaps at some point questions may arise regarding why the coach is walking away with a full payout, with no compensation reduction clause in place. The director speaks rarely in public, for excellent reasons. The real thinkers in football – individuals such as Jason Wilcox – simply operate at a level beyond our own prosaic understanding. If he ever did speak, most likely we would perceive is a series of ultrasonic blips and complex calculations. Wanting is not quite equivalent to being ready to comprehend it.

An Supreme Authority Behind the Throne

But of course, by focusing our attention on Jason Wilcox we overlook the true genius behind the modern United throne. Jason Wilcox is, in reality, merely executing the commands of his line manager Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who in private has emphasized his preference for a back four. It is reported, the owner has also suggested deploying the forward in a wing-back role. The owner is eager for the club to adopt data science and analytics. According to ESPN, during a leadership summit soon after his minority ownership, he announced that United’s style of play “shall be decided in this room”.

After all, Ratcliffe is an expert in this technical footballing stuff, drawing from his previous experience in petrochemicals and yachting. Most importantly he remains immensely wealthy, and as we all know, the wealthy are superior: more insightful, more wise, strategically brilliant, fundamentally superior. Whom else would you trust to oversee a strategic plan of austerity, the building of a modern arena that appears similar to someone’s leftover knitting, the acquisition of Benjamin Sesko?

A New Football Order: Executives Above Coaches

This represents a shift that is becoming prevalent in top-tier football. Historically, teams mistakenly entrusted big footballing decisions to low-level employees such as coaches, talent spotters – players themselves. Perhaps it was once possible for a young, innovative manager with a philosophy and drive to join a club and see their vision supported to fruition. Yet how many businesses have such individuals set up? What number of mass redundancies have they managed? Far preferable to place genuine authority where it belongs: the leadership tier, the open-necked shirt brigade, the individuals with the jaw-dropping professional resumes. Better by far to determine the strategy in the boardroom and hire someone who will adapt their methods accordingly. If coaches were formerly chefs, they are now more akin to delivery personnel: not responsible for the product, but still ultimately answerable if it arrives cold or fails to meet standards.

In the meantime, a coach's role is increasingly not about crafting the philosophy and more about selling it: the receptionist of the operation, the public face of an organisation they can do little to change. Enzo Maresca leads a team of very young players into Europe and wins domestic cups, and effectively is dismissed for speaking out. Wilfried Nancy finds his reputation ruined while those individuals who hired him continue to make errors another day.

The Neoliberal Football: Responsibility for the Coaches

And possibly on some microcosmic level this represents neoliberalism in action: the elevation of a gilded elite who are infallible, whose choices remain untouchable, whose mistakes can always be resolved by sacking without explanation. Appoint the system coach only to fire him for using excessively that system. Bring in the project manager and then discard them for requiring too long. And most importantly be grateful; for the incremental season ticket price rises, for your new player acquisitions, for the reality that the grownups – regardless of their expertise – are in charge.