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Transpired he was able to withstand a loss to lower-league opposition. Survive an important continental showpiece versus a particularly poor Spurs sides in living memory. He could survive losing at home to domestic rivals, a lowly league position, an unwavering system, laying waste to the team's most promising academy products, a poor winning percentage, calling his team the worst in Manchester United history. But there was one adversary with whom Ruben Amorim was not permitted to engage. If you challenge Jason Wilcox, and you best not miss.

Regrettably, similar to numerous Premiership right-back during Blackburn Rovers' championship 1994-95 season, the coach came at the executive and appears to have missed. Even the most casual observer can see the paradoxical situation: a manager who often railed his squad for losing one-on-one duels succumbing in the face of the white heat and animal charisma of one of England's top division's most intimidating sporting directors.

And frankly, this whole painful saga appears to portray the director in a different perspective. Perhaps it might have been tempting, given his nine months of experience with the Saints, to view Jason Wilcox as little more than a drudge within the club's structure: an individual who owed his position as much to his friendship with ex-colleague Omar Berrada as any demonstrable skill. How mistaken everyone was. By masterfully outmanoeuvring United’s feted head coach, just as he bested the unfortunate Dan Ashworth earlier, he has demonstrated to be among the sport’s strategic masterminds: a strategic mind of which the club's competitors will now be rightly wary.

The Strategic Conflict Over Formation & Ideology

For example, this was the director who being involved in the hierarchy that hired the 3-4-3 fundamentalist the coach in the first place, played a key role in attempting to convince him to abandon his beloved 3-4-3. Unsurprisingly, these pleas faced pushback. But perhaps such directives hold greater authority when delivered by a man of a man the impeccable soccer background he possesses, a veteran of international appearances and a role in a championship team from 31 years ago.

Maybe eventually Jason Wilcox might agree to explain his thought processes to the rest of us. Perhaps at some point he might be asked why Amorim is walking away with a full payout, without any compensation reduction clause activated. But Jason Wilcox seldom speaks publicly, and with very good reason. The real thinkers of this sport – individuals such as him – simply operate at a level exceeding our mundane comprehension. Were he to speak, most likely we would perceive would be ultrasonic blips and four-dimensional whirring. Desiring an explanation is not quite the same as being prepared to receive.

The Ultimate Power In Command

Naturally, by focusing our attention on Jason Wilcox we are obscuring the real power behind the modern United throne. Jason Wilcox is, in reality, simply carrying out the directives of his line manager the billionaire owner, who in private has emphasized his preference for a four-man defense. It is reported, the owner has also suggested deploying the forward as a right wing-back. Ratcliffe is keen for United to embrace analytics and analytics. Per reports, during a leadership summit early in his minority ownership, he declared that United’s style to football “will be decided by this group”.

After all, Sir Jim is a specialist in this technical footballing stuff, drawing from his previous experience in petrochemicals and sailing. Above all he remains immensely wealthy, and it is known, the rich are superior: more perceptive, more wise, strategically brilliant, simply superior. Who else would you trust to oversee an enlightened programme of cost-cutting, the construction of a modern arena that looks similar to someone’s leftover knitting, the acquisition of Benjamin Sesko?

The New Soccer Hierarchy: Executives Over Coaches

This is a trend that is becoming prevalent at the elite levels of the game. For decades, teams mistakenly entrusted major sporting choices to subordinate staff such as coaches, scouts – even footballers. Maybe previously possible for a young, innovative manager with a philosophy and drive to go into an organization and implement their plan through to completion. Yet how many businesses have these guys set up? How many large-scale layoffs have they managed? Far preferable to place genuine authority where it rightly belongs: the leadership tier, the casually dressed executives, the individuals with the jaw-dropping LinkedIn profiles. Better by far to determine the strategy in the boardroom and hire a coach who will adapt their methods accordingly. If managers were once chefs, they have become more like delivery personnel: not creating the food, yet ultimately answerable should it be delivered poorly or fails to meet standards.

In the meantime, a coach's role has become less about crafting the philosophy and more about marketing it: the receptionist of the operation, the public face for a club 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. Wilfried Nancy sees his reputation ruined while those individuals who appointed him live to blunder indefinitely.

The Modern Corporate Football: Responsibility Only for the Coaches

And possibly on some microcosmic level this represents corporate governance in action: the elevation of a privileged overclass who can never be wrong, whose decisions remain untouchable, whose errors can always be sacked away without explanation. Hire the system coach and then fire them for playing too much that system. Hire the process guy and later discard him for taking excessive time. And above all show gratitude; for your modest season ticket price rises, for the latest player acquisitions, for the reality that the grownups – regardless of their expertise – are in charge.