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Itbecame clear Ruben Amorim was able to withstand defeat by lower-league opposition. Survive losing a crucial European final versus a particularly poor Tottenham teams for many years. He could survive losing at home to domestic rivals, finishing 15th, an unwavering system, squandering some of the club’s best academy products, the 32% win rate, calling the squad the poorest in Manchester United history. Yet, there existed one adversary against whom the Portuguese coach would not be allowed to engage. If you challenge Jason Wilcox, and you best not miss.

Regrettably, like many a Premiership defender during Blackburn Rovers' title-winning campaign, Amorim took on the executive and appears to have missed. The most casual observer can see the paradoxical situation: a coach who often railed at his players for failing in one-on-one duels crumbling when confronted by the white heat and animal charisma of one of England's top division's most intimidating football executives.

And frankly, this whole painful saga appears to portray the director in a whole new light. Perhaps it might have been easy, given his nine months in a similar role with the Saints, to view him as little more than a drudge within the club's structure: an individual who owed his position largely to his close relationship with ex-colleague Omar Berrada as any demonstrable skill. How wrong everyone was. By masterfully outsmarting the club's celebrated head coach, just as he bested the hapless Dan Ashworth before him, Jason Wilcox has demonstrated to be among the sport’s strategic masterminds: a tactical intellect of which United’s mid-table rivals will now be justifiably concerned.

A Strategic Clash Over Formation & Ideology

For example, it was Jason Wilcox , after having been part of the leadership that appointed the rigid 3-4-3 advocate the coach in the first place, played a key role in attempting to convince him to abandon his favored 3-4-3. Naturally, these entreaties were resisted. However, such directives carry more weight when delivered by a man with the impeccable soccer background he possesses, a veteran of three England caps and a contributor to a title-winning side from 31 years ago.

Perhaps in time Jason Wilcox may be persuaded to explain his reasoning to the rest of us. Perhaps at some point questions may arise regarding why the coach is walking away with a full payout, without any compensation reduction clause activated. But Jason Wilcox seldom speaks in public, 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 equivalent to being ready to comprehend it.

The Ultimate Power In Command

But of course, in training our focus on Jason Wilcox we overlook the true genius behind the club's current leadership. Jason Wilcox is, in reality, simply carrying out the directives of his superior the billionaire owner, who privately has made very clear his desire for a back four. It is reported, the owner has also suggested deploying the forward in a wing-back role. The owner is eager for the club to adopt data science and analytics. Per reports, during a leadership summit early in his investment, he declared that the team's approach of play “shall be decided by this group”.

After all, Ratcliffe is an expert in this technical footballing stuff, drawing from his previous experience in industry and yachting. Most importantly he is immensely wealthy, and it is known, the rich are the best of us: more perceptive, more wise, strategically brilliant, simply superior. Who else would you trust to oversee a strategic plan of cost-cutting, the construction of a modern arena that looks a lot like someone’s leftover knitting, the acquisition of Benjamin Sesko?

A Modern Football Order: Directors Above Coaches

This is a trend we are increasingly seeing in top-tier football. Historically, teams mistakenly delegated big footballing decisions to subordinate staff such as coaches, talent spotters – players themselves. Perhaps it was once feasible for a young, visionary coach with a philosophy and energy to join an organization and implement their plan through to completion. Yet how many businesses have such individuals set up? How many large-scale layoffs have they managed? Better by far to invest the real power where it belongs: the leadership tier, the casually dressed executives, the guys with impressive professional resumes. Better by far to determine the strategy by the directors and hire someone who can tailor their methods accordingly. If coaches were once chefs, they have become more akin to Deliveroo drivers: not creating the food, yet finally accountable if it arrives cold or fails of the box.

In the meantime, a coach's role has become not about crafting the philosophy and more about selling it: the receptionist of the operation, the public face for a club they can do little to influence. Enzo Maresca leads a team of literal children into the Champions League and wins two medium-sized trophies, and essentially gets sacked for talking. A manager at Celtic 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 at work: the elevation of a privileged elite who are infallible, whose choices remain untouchable, whose mistakes can invariably be sacked away without justification. Appoint the system coach only to dismiss him for using excessively 3-4-3. Hire the project manager and later discard them for requiring too long. And above all be grateful; for the incremental increases in ticket costs, for the latest player acquisitions, for the fact that the adults – regardless of their expertise – remain in control.