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Iturns out Ruben Amorim endured a loss to lower-league opposition. Survive losing a crucial European final versus a particularly poor Tottenham teams for many years. He could survive losing at home to domestic rivals, a lowly league position, an unwavering system, squandering some of the club’s best homegrown talent, a poor winning percentage, calling his team the worst in Manchester United history. But there was one adversary with whom Ruben Amorim was not permitted to dance. You come at Jason Wilcox, you had better succeed.

Unfortunately, like many a top-flight defender during Blackburn Rovers' title-winning 1994-95 season, the coach took on the executive and appears to have failed. The most distracted of readers can see the irony here: a manager who frequently berated at his players for losing one-on-one duels succumbing when confronted by the intense pressure and formidable presence of one of the Premier League’s most intimidating sporting directors.

And frankly, this entire painful saga appears to portray Jason Wilcox in a different perspective. Perhaps it might have been tempting, given his nine months in a similar role at Southampton, to regard him as merely a functionary in the United exoskeleton: a man who owed his position as much to his close relationship with his former boss Omar Berrada rather than any verifiable talent. How mistaken we all were. In brilliantly outmanoeuvring the club's celebrated head coach, as he outmanoeuvred the unfortunate Dan Ashworth earlier, he has proved himself to be among the sport’s true generals: a strategic mind of which United’s competitors are now justifiably concerned.

The Tactical Clash Regarding Formation and Philosophy

For example, it was Jason Wilcox who being involved in the hierarchy that appointed the rigid 3-4-3 advocate Amorim in the first place, played a key role in trying to persuade Amorim to ditch his favored 3-4-3. Naturally, these entreaties were resisted. However, such directives hold greater authority when issued by a man with the unimpeachable football pedigree he possesses, a veteran of international appearances and a contributor to a championship team from 31 years ago.

Perhaps in time Jason Wilcox may be persuaded to explain his reasoning to the rest of us. Maybe one day he might be asked why Amorim is departing with full compensation, with no compensation reduction clause in place. The director speaks rarely publicly, and with very good reason. The real thinkers of this sport – men like him – simply operate at a level exceeding our mundane comprehension. If he ever did speak, probably we would perceive is a series of ultrasonic blips and four-dimensional whirring. Wanting is not quite the same as being ready to receive.

The Ultimate Authority Behind the Throne

Naturally, 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 ultimate line manager Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who in private has emphasized his desire for a back four. It is reported, Ratcliffe has also suggested deploying the forward in a wing-back role. Ratcliffe is keen for the club to adopt data science and metrics. According to ESPN, in an executive meeting early in his investment, he declared that the team's approach of play “will be determined in this room”.

Ultimately, Ratcliffe is a specialist in this technical football matters, drawing from his background in industry and sailing. Above all he remains incredibly rich, and it is known, the rich are superior: more insightful, sagacious, strategically brilliant, fundamentally superior. Whom else could one trust to oversee an enlightened programme of austerity, the building of a new stadium that looks a lot like someone’s leftover knitting, the signing of Benjamin Sesko?

The Modern Soccer Hierarchy: Directors Above Managers

This represents a shift we are increasingly seeing in top-tier of the game. Historically, clubs foolishly delegated big footballing decisions to subordinate staff like managers, talent spotters – even footballers. Maybe previously feasible for an up-and-coming, innovative manager with ideas and drive to join an organization and see their vision through to completion. Yet how many businesses have such individuals set up? What number of large-scale layoffs have they overseen? Far preferable to invest genuine authority where it belongs: the executive class, the open-necked shirt brigade, the individuals with impressive professional resumes. Better by far to decide the tactics in the boardroom and appoint a coach who can tailor their offering accordingly. If coaches were once chefs, they are now more like delivery personnel: not responsible for the food, yet ultimately answerable 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 marketing it: the front-facing representative of the operation, the public face for a club they can do little to influence. Enzo Maresca leads a team of very young players into Europe and wins two medium-sized trophies, and essentially gets sacked for talking. Wilfried Nancy finds his standing damaged while those individuals who hired him continue to make errors another day.

A Neoliberal Game: Responsibility Only for the Few

And perhaps in a small way this represents neoliberalism in action: the elevation of a privileged elite who are infallible, whose choices remain sacrosanct, whose mistakes can always be resolved by sacking without justification. Hire the 3-4-3 coach only to dismiss him for using excessively 3-4-3. Bring in the project manager and then bin him for taking too long. And above all show gratitude; for your modest season ticket price rises, for the latest player acquisitions, for the reality that the grownups – regardless of their expertise – remain in control.