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Transpired he could survive a loss to Grimsby. Survive a decisive continental showpiece versus one of the worst Tottenham teams for many years. He withstood losing at home to domestic rivals, finishing 15th, the tactical inflexibility, squandering the team's most promising academy products, the 32% win rate, labeling the squad the poorest in Manchester United history. But there was a single opponent with whom the Portuguese coach was not permitted to dance. You come at the sporting director, and you best not miss.

Unfortunately, similar to numerous Premiership defender in Blackburn’s championship 1994-95 season, Amorim took on Jason Wilcox and appears to have failed. Even the most casual observer will notice the paradoxical situation: a coach who often railed at his players for losing individual battles succumbing in the face of the white heat and formidable presence of one of the Premier League’s most intimidating football executives.

And frankly, this entire bruising episode seems to paint Jason Wilcox in a whole new light. It may have been tempting, given his nine months in a similar role at Southampton, to regard him as merely a functionary within the club's structure: an individual who owed his position as much to his close relationship with ex-colleague Omar Berrada rather than any demonstrable skill. How wrong we all were. By masterfully outsmarting United’s feted manager, just as he bested the unfortunate a previous executive before him, he has demonstrated to be among the sport’s true generals: a tactical intellect that United’s competitors are now rightly wary.

A Tactical Conflict Over Formation & Ideology

To illustrate, this was the director , after 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 favored formation. Naturally, these pleas were resisted. However, such directives hold greater authority when issued from the mouth of a man the unimpeachable soccer background he possesses, holder of international appearances and a contributor to a championship team from 31 years ago.

Perhaps in time Jason Wilcox might agree to explain his reasoning publicly. Perhaps at some point questions may arise regarding why the coach is departing with a full payout, without any compensation reduction clause activated. But Jason Wilcox speaks rarely publicly, for excellent reasons. The true intellectuals of this sport – men like him – simply operate on a plane beyond our own mundane comprehension. Were he to speak, probably we would perceive would be high-frequency signals and complex calculations. Desiring an explanation is not equivalent to being ready to comprehend it.

An Supreme Authority In Command

But of course, in training our focus on Jason Wilcox we overlook the real power behind the modern United throne. Jason Wilcox is, in reality, simply carrying out the directives of his ultimate superior Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who privately has made very clear his desire for a back four. It is reported, Ratcliffe has also suggested deploying the forward as a right wing-back. Ratcliffe is keen for United to adopt data science and metrics. According to ESPN, during a leadership summit soon after his investment, he announced that the team's approach of play “will be determined in this room”.

Ultimately, Ratcliffe is a specialist in this technical footballing stuff, drawing from his background in industry and yachting. Most importantly he remains immensely wealthy, and as we all know, the rich are superior: more perceptive, sagacious, strategically brilliant, fundamentally superior. Who else could one trust to manage a strategic plan of cost-cutting, the construction of a new stadium that appears a lot like someone’s leftover knitting, the acquisition of Benjamin Sesko?

The New Football Order: Directors Over Managers

This is a trend we are increasingly seeing at the elite levels of the game. Historically, clubs foolishly entrusted major sporting choices to subordinate staff like managers, talent spotters – even footballers. Maybe previously possible for an up-and-coming, visionary coach with ideas and energy to go into a club and see their vision through to completion. Yet how many companies have these guys established? How many large-scale layoffs have they overseen? Better by far to place genuine authority where it belongs: the leadership tier, the open-necked shirt brigade, the guys with the jaw-dropping LinkedIn profiles. It is wiser to decide the strategy in the boardroom and appoint a coach who will adapt their methods accordingly. If coaches were formerly chefs, they are now more akin to Deliveroo drivers: not responsible for the food, yet ultimately answerable should it be delivered poorly or fails 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 for a club they can do little to change. A coach at Chelsea takes a squad of very young players into Europe and secures domestic cups, and effectively is dismissed for speaking out. A manager at Celtic finds his standing damaged while the people who appointed him continue to make errors another day.

A Neoliberal Football: Responsibility Only for the Few

And perhaps in a small way this represents neoliberalism in action: the elevation of a gilded elite who can never be wrong, whose choices are always sacrosanct, whose mistakes can invariably be resolved by sacking without explanation. Appoint the 3-4-3 coach and then dismiss him for using excessively 3-4-3. Bring in the process guy and then discard him for requiring excessive time. And above all show gratitude; for your modest increases in ticket costs, for your new player acquisitions, for the reality that the grownups – however well qualified – are in charge.