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Tbecame clear the manager could survive a loss to lower-league opposition. Survive a decisive European final versus one of the worst Spurs sides for many years. He could survive losing at home to West Ham and Wolves, finishing 15th, the tactical inflexibility, squandering the team's most promising academy products, a poor winning percentage, labeling the squad the worst the club has ever seen. But there was one adversary with whom the Portuguese coach was not permitted to tango. If you challenge the sporting director, and you best not miss.

Regrettably, similar to numerous Premiership right-back during Blackburn Rovers' championship campaign, Amorim came at Jason Wilcox and seems to have failed. The most casual observer will notice the irony here: a manager who frequently berated his squad for losing one-on-one duels succumbing when confronted by the intense pressure and animal charisma of a England's top division's most feared sporting directors.

In truth, this whole bruising episode seems to paint Jason Wilcox in a different perspective. Perhaps it might have been tempting, based on his brief stint of experience with the Saints, to regard him as merely a drudge within the club's structure: an individual whose appointment was due as much to his close relationship with ex-colleague a fellow executive as any demonstrable skill. How mistaken everyone was. In brilliantly outmanoeuvring United’s feted manager, just as he bested the hapless a previous executive before him, he has demonstrated as one of the sport’s strategic masterminds: a tactical intellect that United’s competitors are now justifiably concerned.

The Strategic Clash Over Formation & Ideology

To illustrate, it was Jason Wilcox who having been part of the leadership that appointed the rigid 3-4-3 advocate the coach originally, was instrumental in attempting to convince him to abandon his beloved 3-4-3. Unsurprisingly, these entreaties faced pushback. But perhaps such directives hold greater authority when delivered from the mouth of a man the impeccable football pedigree he possesses, holder of international appearances and a contributor to a championship team from 31 years ago.

Maybe eventually he may be persuaded to explain his thought processes publicly. Perhaps at some point he might be asked regarding why the coach is walking away with a full payout, without any penalty clause activated. But Jason Wilcox seldom speaks publicly, and with very good reason. The true intellectuals of this sport – individuals such as him – simply operate at a level beyond our own prosaic understanding. If he ever did speak, probably all we would hear is a series of ultrasonic blips and complex calculations. Wanting is not equivalent to being ready to receive.

The Ultimate Power In the Throne

But of course, by focusing our attention on Jason Wilcox we are obscuring the real power behind the modern United throne. The director is, in reality, merely executing the commands of his superior the billionaire owner, who privately has emphasized his desire for a back four. It is reported, the owner has also suggested deploying the forward as a right wing-back. The owner is eager for the club to embrace data science and metrics. According to ESPN, during a leadership summit early in his minority ownership, he declared that the team's approach of play “will be decided in this room”.

After all, Ratcliffe is a specialist in these intricate footballing stuff, drawing from his previous experience in petrochemicals and sailing. Above all he is immensely wealthy, and it is known, the wealthy are superior: more insightful, more wise, strategically brilliant, fundamentally superior. Who else could one trust to manage a strategic plan of austerity, the building of a modern arena that looks a lot like an abstract design, the signing of a new striker?

The Modern Soccer Hierarchy: Executives Above Coaches

This represents a shift we are increasingly seeing in top-tier football. Historically, clubs foolishly entrusted major sporting choices to subordinate staff such as coaches, scouts – players themselves. Maybe previously feasible for a young, innovative manager with a philosophy and drive to go into a club and see their vision supported to fruition. Yet how many companies have such individuals set up? What number of mass redundancies have they overseen? Better by far to place the real power where it belongs: the executive class, the open-necked shirt brigade, the guys with the jaw-dropping LinkedIn profiles. It is wiser to decide the strategy by the directors and hire a coach who can tailor their offering accordingly. If managers were formerly chefs, they have become more like Deliveroo drivers: not really creating the food, but still finally accountable if it arrives poorly or fails of the box.

Nowadays, a coach's role has become less about crafting the philosophy and more about selling it: the front-facing representative of the operation, the public face of an organisation they have minimal power to change. Enzo Maresca takes a squad of literal children into the Champions League and wins domestic cups, and essentially is dismissed for speaking out. Wilfried Nancy finds his reputation ruined whereas the people who hired him live to blunder another day.

The Neoliberal Football: Accountability Only for the Coaches

And perhaps in a small way this is simply neoliberalism at work: the elevation of a gilded elite who are infallible, whose decisions remain sacrosanct, whose errors can always be sacked away without explanation. Appoint the 3-4-3 coach only to fire them for using too much 3-4-3. Hire the project manager and later bin them for requiring excessive time. And above all show gratitude; for the incremental increases in ticket costs, for your new summer signings, for the fact that the grownups – however well qualified – are in charge.