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Iturns out he could survive a loss to Grimsby. He weathered a decisive European final versus a particularly poor Spurs sides for many years. He withstood losing at home against West Ham and Wolves, finishing 15th, an unwavering system, squandering the team's best homegrown talent, the 32% win rate, labeling his team the poorest the club has ever seen. But there was a single opponent with whom the Portuguese coach was not permitted to tango. You come at Jason Wilcox, you had better succeed.

Unfortunately, similar to numerous top-flight right-back during Blackburn Rovers' championship campaign, Amorim came at Jason Wilcox and seems to have missed. Even the most casual observer will notice the paradoxical situation: a manager who often railed at his players for losing one-on-one duels succumbing when confronted by the intense pressure and animal charisma of a the Premier League’s most intimidating football executives.

And frankly, this entire bruising episode appears to portray the director in a different perspective. It may have been tempting, based on his nine months of experience with the Saints, to view him as little more than a drudge in the United exoskeleton: a man who owed his position as much to his friendship with ex-colleague a fellow executive rather than any demonstrable skill. How wrong everyone was. By masterfully outsmarting United’s feted manager, as he outmanoeuvred the hapless Dan Ashworth before him, he has proved himself as one of the sport’s true generals: a strategic mind of which the club's competitors are now rightly wary.

A Strategic Conflict Over Formation & Ideology

For example, this was Jason Wilcox who being involved in the hierarchy that hired the 3-4-3 fundamentalist the coach originally, played a key role in attempting to convince Amorim to abandon his beloved 3-4-3. Naturally, these pleas faced pushback. But perhaps such directives carry more weight when delivered by a man of a man the unimpeachable soccer background he possesses, a veteran of international appearances and a role in a title-winning side from 31 years ago.

Maybe eventually Jason Wilcox might agree to explain his thought processes to the rest of us. Maybe one day questions may arise why Amorim is departing with a full payout, without any penalty clause activated. But Jason Wilcox seldom speaks in public, for excellent reasons. The real thinkers of this sport – individuals such as Jason Wilcox – simply operate at a level exceeding our mundane comprehension. Were he to speak, most likely we would perceive is a series of high-frequency signals and complex calculations. Desiring an explanation is not equivalent to being prepared to receive.

The Supreme Power In Command

Naturally, by focusing our attention on Jason Wilcox we overlook the true genius behind the club's current leadership. Jason Wilcox is, after all, simply carrying out the commands of his superior the billionaire owner, who in private has made very clear his desire for a back four. It is reported, Ratcliffe has also proposed deploying the forward in a wing-back role. The owner is eager for United to embrace data science and metrics. According to ESPN, during a leadership summit soon after his investment, he declared that United’s style of play “will be decided in this room”.

Ultimately, Sir Jim is a specialist in these intricate football matters, drawing from his background in petrochemicals and sailing. Most importantly he is incredibly rich, and it is known, the wealthy are the best of us: more perceptive, sagacious, strategically brilliant, simply superior. Who else could one trust to manage a strategic plan of cost-cutting, the building of a modern arena that looks a lot like someone’s leftover knitting, the acquisition of a new striker?

The New Soccer Hierarchy: Directors Above Managers

This represents a shift we are increasingly seeing at the elite levels football. Historically, clubs foolishly delegated big footballing decisions to subordinate staff such as coaches, talent spotters – even footballers. Perhaps it was once feasible for a young, visionary coach with a philosophy and drive to join an organization and see their vision through to completion. Yet how many companies have such individuals established? What number of mass redundancies have they managed? Far preferable to invest genuine authority where it belongs: the leadership tier, the casually dressed executives, the guys with impressive professional resumes. Better by far to decide the tactics by the directors and hire someone who can tailor their offering to suit. If coaches were formerly chefs, they have become more like Deliveroo drivers: not creating the food, yet finally accountable should it be delivered cold or leaks out of the box.

In the meantime, a coach's role has become less about defining the vision and more about marketing it: the front-facing representative on the front desk, the visible figurehead for a club they have minimal power to influence. Enzo Maresca leads a team of literal children into Europe and secures two medium-sized trophies, and essentially is dismissed for talking. Wilfried Nancy finds his standing damaged whereas the people who appointed him continue to make errors indefinitely.

A Neoliberal Game: Accountability for the Few

And perhaps on some microcosmic level this is simply corporate governance at work: the rise of a gilded overclass who can never be wrong, whose decisions remain untouchable, whose errors can always be sacked away without explanation. Appoint the system coach and then fire him for using too much 3-4-3. Hire the process guy and then bin him for taking excessive time. And above all be grateful; for your modest increases in ticket costs, for the latest summer signings, for the fact that the adults – however well qualified – remain in control.