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Itranspired Ruben Amorim could survive a loss to lower-league opposition. Survive a decisive European final versus a particularly poor Tottenham teams for many years. He could survive losing at home to domestic rivals, finishing 15th, his rigid approach, undermining the team's best homegrown talent, the 32% win rate, labeling his team the worst in Manchester United history. Yet, there existed a single opponent with whom the Portuguese coach was not permitted to dance. You come at Jason Wilcox, you had better succeed.

Regrettably, similar to numerous top-flight right-back during Blackburn Rovers' title-winning 1994-95 season, the coach took on Jason Wilcox and appears to have failed. The most casual observer can see the paradoxical situation: a coach who frequently berated at his players for failing in one-on-one duels crumbling in the face of the white heat and formidable presence of a England's top division's most intimidating sporting directors.

In truth, this whole painful saga seems to paint Jason Wilcox in a different perspective. Perhaps it might have been tempting, based on his brief stint in a similar role at Southampton, to regard him as merely a drudge within the club's structure: an individual who owed his position as much to his close relationship with his former boss Omar Berrada as any verifiable talent. How mistaken we all were. By masterfully outsmarting the club's celebrated head coach, as he outmanoeuvred the unfortunate Dan Ashworth before him, he has proved himself as one of football's strategic masterminds: a tactical intellect that the club's competitors are now justifiably concerned.

The Tactical Clash Regarding System & Ideology

For example, this was Jason Wilcox , after being involved in the hierarchy that appointed the 3-4-3 fundamentalist the coach in the first place, played a key role in attempting to convince Amorim to ditch his beloved formation. Naturally, these pleas were resisted. But perhaps such directives carry more weight when issued by a man of a man the unimpeachable football pedigree he possesses, holder of three England caps and a role in a championship team from 31 years ago.

Perhaps in time he might agree to outline his thought processes 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 in place. But Jason Wilcox seldom speaks publicly, and with very good reason. The true intellectuals of this sport – individuals such as Jason Wilcox – simply operate at a level exceeding our prosaic understanding. If he ever did speak, probably we would perceive would be ultrasonic blips and complex calculations. Wanting is not the same as being prepared to receive.

An Supreme Authority Behind the Throne

Naturally, by focusing our attention on the sporting director we are obscuring the true genius behind the club's current leadership. Jason Wilcox is, after all, merely executing the commands of his ultimate superior the billionaire owner, who privately has made very clear his desire for a four-man defense. It is reported, Ratcliffe has also suggested deploying the forward in a wing-back role. The owner is eager for the club to adopt data science and metrics. According to ESPN, in an executive meeting early in his investment, he announced that United’s style to football “shall be determined by this group”.

After all, Sir Jim is a specialist in these intricate football matters, leveraging his background in industry and sailing. Most importantly he remains incredibly rich, and it is known, the wealthy are superior: more perceptive, more wise, more tactically astute, simply superior. Whom else would you trust to manage an enlightened programme of austerity, the construction of a new stadium that appears a lot like someone’s leftover knitting, the signing of Benjamin Sesko?

A Modern Football Order: Directors Above Managers

This represents a shift we are increasingly seeing in top-tier football. Historically, teams mistakenly delegated major sporting choices to low-level employees such as coaches, scouts – even footballers. Perhaps it was once feasible for an up-and-coming, innovative manager with a philosophy and energy to go into an organization and implement their plan supported to fruition. But how many companies have these guys set up? How many mass redundancies have they managed? Far preferable to invest the real power where it belongs: the leadership tier, the open-necked shirt brigade, the guys with impressive professional resumes. Better by far to decide the tactics by the directors and appoint someone who will adapt their offering accordingly. If managers were formerly chefs, they are now more akin to delivery personnel: not responsible for the product, yet ultimately answerable if it arrives poorly or leaks out to meet standards.

In the meantime, their job is increasingly not about defining the vision and more about selling it: the receptionist of the operation, the visible figurehead for a club they have minimal power to change. Enzo Maresca leads a team of literal children into the Champions League and secures domestic cups, and effectively gets sacked for speaking out. A manager at Celtic sees his reputation ruined while the people who appointed him live to blunder another day.

A Neoliberal Football: Accountability for the Few

And possibly in a small way this is simply neoliberalism at work: the elevation of a privileged overclass who are infallible, whose decisions are always sacrosanct, whose mistakes can invariably be sacked away without explanation. Appoint the 3-4-3 coach and then fire them for playing too much 3-4-3. Hire the project manager and then discard him for requiring excessive time. And above all be grateful; for your modest season ticket price rises, for your new player acquisitions, for the reality that the grownups – however well qualified – remain in control.