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Transpired the manager was able to withstand a loss to lower-league opposition. Survive a decisive continental showpiece against a particularly poor Spurs sides for many years. He could survive home defeats against West Ham and Wolves, a lowly league position, an unwavering system, squandering some of the club’s most promising academy products, the 32% win rate, labeling the squad the poorest in Manchester United history. But there was one adversary with whom Ruben Amorim was not permitted to engage. If you challenge the sporting director, you had better succeed.

Unfortunately, like many a top-flight right-back during Blackburn Rovers' championship campaign, the coach took on Jason Wilcox and seems to have failed. The most casual observer can see the paradoxical situation: a manager who often railed his squad for failing in one-on-one duels succumbing in the face of the white heat and formidable presence of one of the Premier League’s most feared football executives.

In truth, this whole bruising episode appears to portray Jason Wilcox in a whole new light. It may have been easy, based on his brief stint of experience with the Saints, to regard him as little more than a functionary in the United exoskeleton: an individual whose appointment was due as much to his close relationship with his former boss Omar Berrada rather than any demonstrable skill. How mistaken everyone was. By masterfully outsmarting United’s feted manager, as he outmanoeuvred the unfortunate a previous executive earlier, Jason Wilcox has demonstrated as one of football's true generals: a strategic mind of which United’s competitors will now be justifiably concerned.

The Strategic Clash Over System & Philosophy

To illustrate, it was the director , after being involved in the leadership that hired the rigid 3-4-3 advocate the coach in the first place, was instrumental in attempting to convince him to abandon his beloved formation. Naturally, these entreaties were resisted. But perhaps these judgements carry more weight when delivered from the mouth of a man the impeccable soccer background of Jason Wilcox, holder of three England caps and a contributor to a title-winning side from 31 years ago.

Perhaps in time he may be persuaded to outline his thought processes to the rest of us. Perhaps at some point he might be asked regarding why the coach is walking away with a full payout, with no penalty clause in place. But Jason Wilcox seldom speaks publicly, and with very good reason. The true intellectuals of this sport – individuals such as him – function at a level exceeding our prosaic understanding. Were he to speak, most likely we would perceive would be high-frequency signals and four-dimensional whirring. Desiring an explanation is not equivalent to being prepared to comprehend it.

The Supreme Authority Behind the Throne

Naturally, 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 ultimate line manager the billionaire owner, who in private has emphasized his desire for a back four. It is reported, the owner has also suggested playing Bryan Mbeumo in a wing-back role. Ratcliffe is keen for the club to adopt data science and analytics. Per reports, during a leadership summit early in his minority ownership, he announced that United’s style of play “will be determined by this group”.

Ultimately, Sir Jim is an expert in these intricate football matters, leveraging his background in industry and sailing. Above all he remains incredibly rich, and it is known, the rich are the best of us: more perceptive, more wise, more tactically astute, simply better. Whom else could one trust to manage an enlightened programme of cost-cutting, the building of a modern arena that looks similar to someone’s leftover knitting, the signing of a new striker?

A Modern Soccer Order: Executives Above Managers

This is a trend that is becoming prevalent at the elite levels of the game. Historically, teams mistakenly entrusted major sporting choices to low-level employees such as coaches, talent spotters – even footballers. Perhaps it was once feasible for a young, visionary coach with ideas and drive to go into an organization and implement their plan supported to fruition. But how many businesses have such individuals set up? What number of large-scale layoffs have they managed? Better by far to invest the real power where it belongs: the executive class, the casually dressed executives, the individuals with impressive LinkedIn profiles. Better by far to decide the strategy by the directors and hire a coach who will adapt their offering to suit. If coaches were once chefs, they are now more like delivery personnel: not really creating the food, but still finally accountable if it arrives cold or leaks out of the box.

Nowadays, their job is increasingly less about crafting the philosophy and more about marketing it: the receptionist on the front desk, the public face of an organisation they can do little to influence. Enzo Maresca leads a team of very young players into the Champions League and secures two medium-sized trophies, and effectively is dismissed for speaking out. Wilfried Nancy finds his reputation ruined whereas the people who appointed him live to blunder indefinitely.

A Neoliberal Game: Responsibility Only for the Coaches

And possibly in a small way this represents neoliberalism in action: the rise of a gilded elite who can never be wrong, whose decisions remain untouchable, whose mistakes can invariably be sacked away without explanation. Hire the system coach and then dismiss them for using too much that system. Bring in the project manager and later discard them for requiring too long. And above all be grateful; for the incremental increases in ticket costs, for your new summer signings, for the reality that the grownups – regardless of their expertise – are in charge.