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Iturns out Ruben Amorim could survive defeat by lower-league opposition. Survive losing a crucial continental showpiece against a particularly poor Tottenham teams for many years. He could survive losing at home to domestic rivals, finishing 15th, his rigid approach, laying waste to the team's best academy products, the 32% win rate, labeling his team the poorest in Manchester United history. Yet, there existed a single opponent with whom Ruben Amorim would not be allowed to tango. You come at the sporting director, you had better succeed.

Regrettably, similar to numerous top-flight right-back in Blackburn’s championship campaign, the coach came at the executive and seems to have missed. The most casual observer will notice the irony here: a manager who often railed at his players for losing one-on-one duels crumbling when confronted by the intense pressure and animal charisma of a England's top division's most feared sporting directors.

In truth, this entire bruising episode seems to paint Jason Wilcox in a different perspective. It may have been easy, given his nine months of experience at Southampton, to view Jason Wilcox as little more than a functionary in the United exoskeleton: a man whose appointment was due as much to his close relationship with ex-colleague Omar Berrada as any verifiable talent. How mistaken everyone was. In brilliantly outmanoeuvring United’s feted manager, as he outmanoeuvred the hapless a previous executive before him, Jason Wilcox has demonstrated to be among football's strategic masterminds: a tactical intellect that the club's competitors will now be rightly wary.

The Tactical Conflict Over System and Philosophy

To illustrate, it was the director who having been part of the hierarchy that appointed the 3-4-3 fundamentalist the coach originally, was instrumental in trying to persuade Amorim to ditch his beloved formation. Unsurprisingly, these pleas were resisted. But perhaps such directives hold greater authority when issued from the mouth of a man the impeccable football pedigree he possesses, holder of international appearances and a role in a championship team from 31 years ago.

Maybe eventually Jason Wilcox may be persuaded to outline his thought processes publicly. 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 in football – individuals such as Jason Wilcox – simply operate at a level exceeding our mundane comprehension. Were he to speak, probably we would perceive is a series of ultrasonic blips and four-dimensional whirring. Desiring an explanation is not equivalent to being ready to receive.

An Supreme Authority In the Throne

Naturally, by focusing our attention on Jason Wilcox we overlook the real power behind the club's current leadership. The director is, in reality, merely executing the commands of his ultimate line manager the billionaire owner, who in private has emphasized his preference for a four-man defense. It is reported, Ratcliffe has also suggested playing Bryan Mbeumo as a right wing-back. Ratcliffe is keen for the club to embrace data science and analytics. Per reports, in an executive meeting early in his minority ownership, he declared that United’s style of play “will be determined in this room”.

After all, Sir Jim is an expert in these intricate footballing stuff, drawing from his background in industry and sailing. Most importantly he is immensely wealthy, and it is known, the wealthy are the best of us: more insightful, sagacious, more tactically astute, simply superior. Who else could one trust to oversee an enlightened programme of cost-cutting, the construction of a modern arena that appears similar to someone’s leftover knitting, the signing of a new striker?

The New Football Hierarchy: Directors Over Managers

This represents a shift that is becoming prevalent at the elite levels football. Historically, clubs foolishly entrusted big footballing decisions to subordinate staff like managers, scouts – players themselves. Perhaps it was once possible for a young, visionary coach with ideas and drive to join an organization and see their vision supported to fruition. Yet how many businesses have these guys set up? How many large-scale layoffs have they overseen? Far preferable to place genuine authority where it rightly belongs: the leadership tier, the casually dressed executives, the individuals with the jaw-dropping LinkedIn profiles. It is wiser to determine the tactics by the directors and hire someone who can tailor their methods to suit. If managers were formerly chefs, they have become more akin to Deliveroo drivers: not responsible for the food, yet ultimately answerable should it be delivered poorly or fails to meet standards.

Nowadays, their job has become less about defining the vision and more about selling it: the receptionist on the front desk, the visible figurehead for a club they can do little to influence. Enzo Maresca leads a team of literal children into Europe and wins domestic cups, and effectively is dismissed for speaking out. Wilfried Nancy finds his standing damaged whereas those individuals who hired him continue to make errors another day.

The Neoliberal Football: Accountability for the Coaches

And perhaps in a small way this is simply corporate governance at work: the elevation of a gilded elite who can never be wrong, whose choices remain untouchable, whose mistakes can invariably be resolved by sacking without justification. Hire the system coach and then fire him for playing too much that system. Bring in the project manager and later discard them for taking too long. And above all be grateful; for your modest increases in ticket costs, for your new player acquisitions, for the reality that the grownups – however well qualified – remain in control.