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Iturns out Ruben Amorim could survive defeat by Grimsby. Survive losing a crucial European final versus one of the worst Spurs sides for many years. He could survive losing at home to domestic rivals, a lowly league position, the tactical inflexibility, squandering some of the club’s most promising academy products, the 32% win rate, labeling the squad the worst in Manchester United history. But there was a single opponent with whom the Portuguese coach was not permitted to engage. You come at the sporting director, and you best not miss.

Unfortunately, similar to numerous top-flight defender in Blackburn’s title-winning 1994-95 season, Amorim came at Jason Wilcox and seems to have failed. Even the most casual observer will notice the paradoxical situation: a manager who often railed his squad for losing individual battles succumbing when confronted by the intense pressure and formidable presence of one of the Premier League’s most feared sporting directors.

And frankly, this entire painful saga appears to portray Jason Wilcox in a whole new light. It may have been tempting, given his brief stint of experience at Southampton, to regard him as merely a drudge 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 wrong we all were. In brilliantly outmanoeuvring United’s feted manager, just as he bested the hapless a previous executive earlier, he has proved himself as one of the sport’s true generals: a strategic mind of which United’s mid-table rivals are now rightly wary.

A Strategic Clash Over System & Philosophy

For example, this was Jason Wilcox who having been part of the leadership that appointed the 3-4-3 fundamentalist Amorim originally, was instrumental in attempting to convince him to ditch his beloved formation. Unsurprisingly, these entreaties faced pushback. However, these judgements hold greater authority when issued by a man of a man the impeccable soccer background he possesses, a veteran of international appearances and a contributor to a title-winning side from 31 years ago.

Perhaps in time he may be persuaded to explain his thought processes publicly. Maybe one day questions may arise why Amorim is departing with full compensation, with no penalty clause activated. But Jason Wilcox seldom speaks publicly, for excellent reasons. The true intellectuals of this sport – individuals such as Jason Wilcox – simply operate on a plane exceeding our mundane comprehension. Were he to speak, probably all we would hear is a series of high-frequency signals and complex calculations. Desiring an explanation is not quite the same as being ready to comprehend it.

An Supreme Power In the Throne

But of course, by focusing our attention on Jason Wilcox we overlook the true genius behind the club's current leadership. The director is, in reality, merely executing the directives of his line manager Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who privately has emphasized his preference for a four-man defense. According to reports, the owner has also suggested deploying the forward as a right wing-back. The owner is eager for United to adopt analytics and metrics. According to ESPN, in an executive meeting early in his minority ownership, he declared that United’s style to football “shall be determined by this group”.

After all, Ratcliffe is an expert in this technical football matters, leveraging his background in industry and sailing. Most importantly he is immensely wealthy, and it is known, the wealthy are superior: more insightful, sagacious, strategically brilliant, fundamentally better. Whom else could one trust to manage a strategic plan of austerity, the building of a modern arena that looks similar to someone’s leftover knitting, the signing of a new striker?

A New Soccer Hierarchy: Executives Over Managers

This represents a shift that is becoming prevalent at the elite levels of the game. For decades, clubs foolishly delegated major sporting choices to subordinate staff like managers, talent spotters – players themselves. Perhaps it was once possible for a young, innovative manager with a philosophy and drive to go into a club and implement their plan supported to fruition. But how many companies have these guys established? How many mass redundancies have they overseen? Far preferable to place the real power where it belongs: the leadership tier, the casually dressed executives, the guys with the jaw-dropping professional resumes. Better by far to determine the tactics in the boardroom and hire someone who can tailor their offering to suit. If coaches were once chefs, they are now more like delivery personnel: not creating the product, but still ultimately answerable should it be delivered cold or leaks out of the box.

In the meantime, their job is increasingly less about crafting the philosophy and more about selling it: the receptionist of the operation, the visible figurehead of an organisation they can do little to influence. Enzo Maresca takes a squad of very young players into Europe and secures domestic cups, and essentially gets sacked for talking. Wilfried Nancy finds his standing damaged while the people who hired him live to blunder indefinitely.

The Neoliberal Game: Accountability Only for the Few

And perhaps in a small way this represents neoliberalism in action: the rise of a gilded elite who are infallible, whose choices remain sacrosanct, whose errors can always be sacked away without explanation. Hire the 3-4-3 coach only to fire them for using excessively that system. Hire the project manager and later discard him for requiring too long. And most importantly be grateful; for your modest increases in ticket costs, for the latest summer signings, for the fact that the grownups – however well qualified – remain in control.