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Turns out the manager could survive a loss to Grimsby. He weathered an important European final against one of the worst Tottenham teams for many years. He withstood home defeats against West Ham and Wolves, a lowly league position, his rigid approach, laying waste to the team's best homegrown talent, a poor winning percentage, calling his team the poorest the club has ever seen. But there was one adversary against whom the Portuguese coach would not be allowed to engage. You come at Jason Wilcox, and you best not miss.

Unfortunately, similar to numerous Premiership defender in Blackburn’s title-winning 1994-95 season, Amorim came at Jason Wilcox and appears to have failed. Even the most casual observer will notice the irony here: a coach who frequently berated at his players for losing individual battles succumbing when confronted by the white heat and formidable presence of a England's top division's most intimidating football executives.

In truth, this whole bruising episode seems to paint the director in a whole new light. Perhaps it might have been tempting, given his brief stint of experience at Southampton, to regard Jason Wilcox as little more than a drudge within the club's structure: a man whose appointment was due largely to his close relationship with ex-colleague Omar Berrada as any verifiable talent. How mistaken everyone was. By masterfully outmanoeuvring the club's celebrated manager, as he outmanoeuvred the hapless Dan Ashworth before him, he has proved himself as one of the sport’s strategic masterminds: a tactical intellect that United’s competitors are now justifiably concerned.

A Strategic Clash Over System and Philosophy

For example, it was the director who having been part of the leadership that appointed the rigid 3-4-3 advocate the coach originally, played a key role in attempting to convince Amorim to abandon his beloved 3-4-3. Unsurprisingly, these pleas faced pushback. However, these judgements carry more weight when delivered from the mouth with the unimpeachable soccer background he possesses, holder of three England caps and a role in a title-winning side decades past.

Maybe eventually he might agree to outline his reasoning to the rest of us. Maybe one day questions may arise why Amorim is departing with a full payout, without any compensation reduction clause activated. But Jason Wilcox speaks rarely in public, and with very good reason. The true intellectuals of this sport – individuals such as Jason Wilcox – function at a level exceeding our prosaic understanding. Were he to speak, most likely all we would hear would be ultrasonic blips and complex calculations. Desiring an explanation is not quite equivalent to being prepared to comprehend it.

An Supreme Authority Behind the Throne

Naturally, 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 superior the billionaire owner, who privately has made very clear his preference for a back four. It is reported, the owner has also suggested playing Bryan Mbeumo as a right wing-back. The owner is eager for United to embrace analytics and analytics. Per reports, during a leadership summit early in his investment, he declared that United’s style of play “shall be decided in this room”.

Ultimately, Sir Jim is an expert in these intricate football matters, drawing from his previous experience in industry and sailing. Most importantly he remains incredibly rich, and it is known, the rich are superior: more insightful, sagacious, strategically brilliant, simply superior. Who else could one trust to manage a strategic plan of cost-cutting, the construction of a new stadium that appears a lot like someone’s leftover knitting, the signing of Benjamin Sesko?

A New Football Order: Directors Above Coaches

This represents a shift we are increasingly seeing in top-tier football. Historically, clubs foolishly entrusted major sporting choices to subordinate staff such as coaches, talent spotters – even footballers. Perhaps it was once feasible for an up-and-coming, visionary coach with ideas and drive to join a club and implement their plan through to completion. But how many companies have such individuals set up? How many large-scale layoffs have they managed? Better by far to place genuine authority where it belongs: the leadership tier, the casually dressed executives, the guys with the jaw-dropping professional resumes. Better by far to determine the strategy by the directors and hire a coach who can tailor their methods accordingly. If coaches were formerly chefs, they have become more like delivery personnel: not really responsible for the product, yet finally accountable if it arrives cold or fails of the box.

In the meantime, a coach's role is increasingly less about defining the vision and more about marketing it: the receptionist on the front desk, the public face for a club they can do little to change. Enzo Maresca takes a squad of very young players into the Champions League and wins domestic cups, and effectively is dismissed for speaking out. Wilfried Nancy sees his reputation ruined whereas those individuals who appointed him live to blunder indefinitely.

The Neoliberal Football: Accountability for the Few

And possibly in a small way this is simply corporate governance in action: the rise of a gilded overclass who can never be wrong, whose decisions are always sacrosanct, whose mistakes can invariably be resolved by sacking without explanation. Hire the system coach only to fire them for playing too much 3-4-3. Hire the process guy and later discard them for taking too long. And above all show gratitude; for your modest season ticket price rises, for your new summer signings, for the reality that the grownups – however well qualified – remain in control.