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Itranspired Ruben Amorim was able to withstand losing against lower-league opposition. Survive a decisive continental showpiece against one of the worst Spurs sides in living memory. He could survive losing at home against West Ham and Wolves, finishing 15th, an unwavering system, laying waste to some of the club’s most promising academy products, the 32% win rate, labeling his team the poorest the club has ever seen. Yet, there existed a single opponent with whom Ruben Amorim would not be allowed to tango. You come at Jason Wilcox, you had better succeed.

Regrettably, similar to numerous top-flight right-back in Blackburn’s championship campaign, Amorim came at Jason Wilcox and seems to have failed. Even the most casual observer can see the irony here: a coach who often railed at his players for losing one-on-one duels crumbling when confronted by the white heat and formidable presence of a the Premier League’s most intimidating football executives.

In truth, this entire bruising episode seems to paint the director in a different perspective. Perhaps it might have been easy, based on his nine months in a similar role with the Saints, to regard Jason Wilcox as merely a drudge within the club's structure: an individual who owed his position as much to his friendship with ex-colleague a fellow executive as any verifiable talent. How wrong we all were. By masterfully outmanoeuvring United’s feted manager, as he outmanoeuvred the unfortunate Dan Ashworth earlier, Jason Wilcox has proved himself to be among the sport’s true generals: a tactical intellect that United’s mid-table rivals will now be justifiably concerned.

A Tactical Conflict Regarding Formation and Philosophy

For example, it was Jason Wilcox who having been part of the leadership that hired the 3-4-3 fundamentalist the coach originally, played a key role in attempting to convince Amorim to ditch his beloved 3-4-3. Unsurprisingly, these pleas were resisted. But perhaps such directives hold greater authority when issued from the mouth of a man the impeccable football pedigree he possesses, holder of international appearances and a role in a championship team from 31 years ago.

Perhaps in time Jason Wilcox may be persuaded to outline his thought processes publicly. Maybe one day he might be asked why Amorim is departing with a full payout, with no compensation reduction clause in place. The director speaks rarely in public, and with very good reason. The real thinkers of this sport – individuals such as him – function on a plane beyond our own mundane comprehension. If he ever did speak, probably all we would hear would be ultrasonic blips and complex calculations. Wanting is not the same as being ready to comprehend it.

The Supreme Authority Behind Command

But of course, in training our focus on Jason Wilcox we overlook the real power behind the club's current leadership. The director is, in reality, simply carrying out the commands of his superior Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who privately has emphasized his desire for a four-man defense. It is reported, the owner has also suggested deploying the forward as a right wing-back. Ratcliffe is keen for the club to adopt data science and analytics. According to ESPN, in an executive meeting soon after his investment, he declared that United’s style of play “shall be decided in this room”.

After all, Sir Jim is an expert in these intricate football matters, drawing from his previous experience in petrochemicals and sailing. Above all he remains immensely wealthy, and it is known, the wealthy are the best of us: more insightful, sagacious, more tactically astute, fundamentally superior. Who else could one trust to oversee an enlightened programme of austerity, the building of a new stadium that appears a lot like an abstract design, the signing of Benjamin Sesko?

The New Soccer Hierarchy: Directors Over Managers

This represents a shift we are increasingly seeing at the elite levels football. For decades, teams mistakenly entrusted major sporting choices to low-level employees like managers, scouts – players themselves. Maybe previously feasible for an up-and-coming, visionary coach with a philosophy and energy to join an organization and see their vision through to completion. Yet how many businesses have these guys established? How many mass redundancies have they managed? Far preferable to invest genuine authority where it rightly belongs: the executive class, the casually dressed executives, the individuals with the jaw-dropping professional resumes. Better by far to decide the tactics in the boardroom and hire a coach who will adapt their methods accordingly. If coaches were formerly chefs, they have become more like Deliveroo drivers: not really creating the product, yet finally accountable should it be delivered cold or leaks out of the box.

In the meantime, a coach's role is increasingly less about crafting the philosophy and more about selling it: the receptionist on the front desk, the public face for a club they have minimal power to influence. Enzo Maresca takes a squad of very young players into the Champions League and wins two medium-sized trophies, and effectively is dismissed for talking. A manager at Celtic finds his reputation ruined while those individuals who appointed him live to blunder another day.

A Neoliberal Game: Accountability Only for the Coaches

And possibly on some microcosmic level this represents neoliberalism at work: the rise of a gilded overclass who can never be wrong, whose decisions are always untouchable, whose errors can always be resolved by sacking without explanation. Hire the 3-4-3 coach and then dismiss him for using too much that system. Bring in the project manager and later bin him for taking excessive time. And most importantly be grateful; for the incremental season ticket price rises, for the latest summer signings, for the reality that the grownups – however well qualified – remain in control.