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Turns out he endured a loss to Grimsby. Survive a decisive continental showpiece against one of the worst Spurs sides for many years. He could survive home defeats against West Ham and Wolves, a lowly league position, his rigid approach, squandering the team's best homegrown talent, the 32% win rate, labeling the squad the worst the club has ever seen. But there was 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 defender during Blackburn Rovers' title-winning campaign, Amorim took on the executive and seems to have failed. Even the most casual observer can see the paradoxical situation: a manager who often railed at his players for losing individual battles crumbling in the face of the intense pressure and animal charisma of one of England's top division's most intimidating football executives.

In truth, this entire bruising episode seems to paint Jason Wilcox in a whole new light. It may have been easy, given his nine months in a similar role at Southampton, to regard Jason Wilcox as little more than a functionary within the club's structure: a man whose appointment was due largely to his friendship with ex-colleague a fellow executive rather than any verifiable talent. How wrong we all were. By masterfully outsmarting United’s feted manager, just as he bested the unfortunate a previous executive before him, Jason Wilcox has proved himself to be among football's strategic masterminds: a tactical intellect that United’s competitors are now justifiably concerned.

The Tactical Conflict Regarding System & Philosophy

To illustrate, it was the director , after being involved in the leadership that hired the 3-4-3 fundamentalist Amorim originally, was instrumental in trying to persuade him to ditch his favored formation. Unsurprisingly, these entreaties were resisted. But perhaps such directives carry more weight when delivered from the mouth with the unimpeachable football pedigree of Jason Wilcox, a veteran of international appearances and a contributor to a title-winning side decades past.

Perhaps in time he might agree to explain his reasoning to the rest of us. Maybe one day he might be asked why Amorim is departing with full compensation, without any compensation reduction clause in place. But Jason Wilcox speaks rarely publicly, and with very good reason. The real thinkers in football – individuals such as Jason Wilcox – function at a level beyond our own prosaic understanding. If he ever did speak, probably we would perceive would be ultrasonic blips and four-dimensional whirring. Desiring an explanation is not quite the same as being ready to receive.

The Supreme Authority Behind the Throne

But of course, in training our focus on Jason Wilcox we overlook the real power behind the club's current leadership. Jason Wilcox is, in reality, merely executing the directives of his ultimate line manager Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who privately has made very clear his desire for a back four. It is reported, the owner has also suggested deploying the forward as a right wing-back. The owner is eager for the club to adopt data science and metrics. Per reports, during a leadership summit early in his investment, he announced that United’s style of play “shall be determined in this room”.

Ultimately, Sir Jim is an expert in this technical football matters, drawing from his background in petrochemicals and yachting. Most importantly he remains immensely wealthy, and it is known, the rich are superior: more insightful, more wise, more tactically astute, simply superior. Who else could one trust to oversee an enlightened programme of cost-cutting, the building of a new stadium that looks a lot like someone’s leftover knitting, the signing of a new striker?

A Modern Soccer Hierarchy: Directors Above Coaches

This is a trend that is becoming prevalent in top-tier football. For decades, teams mistakenly entrusted big footballing decisions to subordinate staff like managers, scouts – players themselves. Perhaps it was once possible for a young, innovative manager with a philosophy and drive to join a club and see their vision through to completion. But how many businesses have these guys established? How many mass redundancies have they managed? 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 decide the tactics by the directors and hire a coach who will adapt their methods accordingly. If managers were formerly chefs, they are now more akin to Deliveroo drivers: not really creating the food, but still finally accountable should it be delivered poorly or fails to meet standards.

Nowadays, their job has become not about defining the vision and more about selling it: the front-facing representative on the front desk, the visible figurehead of an organisation they can do little to influence. Enzo Maresca takes a squad of literal children into Europe and wins domestic cups, and essentially gets sacked for talking. A manager at Celtic sees his reputation ruined whereas those individuals who appointed him continue to make errors indefinitely.

The Neoliberal Football: Accountability Only for the Coaches

And perhaps on some microcosmic level this is simply corporate governance at work: the elevation of a gilded elite who can never be wrong, whose decisions remain untouchable, whose mistakes can invariably be sacked away without justification. Hire the 3-4-3 coach and then fire them for playing too much that system. Bring in the project manager and later discard him for taking too long. And above all be grateful; for your modest season ticket price rises, for the latest summer signings, for the fact that the grownups – however well qualified – are in charge.