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Itranspired he endured a loss to Grimsby. Survive losing a crucial European final versus a particularly poor Spurs sides for many years. He withstood losing at home to West Ham and Wolves, finishing 15th, the tactical inflexibility, laying waste to the team's most promising homegrown talent, a poor winning percentage, calling the squad the poorest in Manchester United history. But there was one adversary with whom Ruben Amorim would not be allowed to dance. You come at Jason Wilcox, you had better succeed.

Unfortunately, like many a Premiership defender in Blackburn’s title-winning 1994-95 season, the coach took on Jason Wilcox and seems to have missed. The most casual observer can see the irony here: a manager who often railed his squad for failing in one-on-one duels succumbing when confronted by the intense pressure and formidable presence of one of the Premier League’s most intimidating sporting directors.

And frankly, this entire bruising episode appears to portray Jason Wilcox in a whole new light. It may have been easy, given his brief stint of experience at Southampton, to regard him as little more than a functionary within the club's structure: a man who owed his position as much to his friendship with ex-colleague a fellow executive as any demonstrable skill. How mistaken everyone was. By masterfully outsmarting United’s feted manager, as he outmanoeuvred the unfortunate Dan Ashworth before him, Jason Wilcox has proved himself as one of football's true generals: a strategic mind that the club's competitors are now rightly wary.

The Tactical Conflict Over Formation & Philosophy

For example, it was Jason Wilcox who having been part of the leadership that appointed the rigid 3-4-3 advocate Amorim in the first place, played a key role in attempting to convince Amorim to ditch his favored formation. Unsurprisingly, these pleas met a certain resistance. But perhaps such directives hold greater authority when issued from the mouth with the impeccable soccer background of Jason Wilcox, holder of international appearances and a contributor to a title-winning side from 31 years ago.

Perhaps in time Jason Wilcox might agree to explain his thought processes publicly. Perhaps at some point questions may arise regarding why the coach is walking away with full compensation, without any compensation reduction clause activated. But Jason Wilcox seldom speaks publicly, and with very good reason. The real thinkers in football – men like Jason Wilcox – simply operate at a level beyond our own mundane comprehension. If he ever did speak, probably we would perceive is a series of high-frequency signals and four-dimensional whirring. Wanting is not the same as being ready to comprehend it.

An Ultimate Authority In Command

Naturally, 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 commands of his ultimate superior Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who in private has made very clear his desire for a back four. According to reports, the owner has also proposed playing Bryan Mbeumo as a right wing-back. Ratcliffe is keen for United to embrace analytics and analytics. Per reports, in an executive meeting soon after his minority ownership, he announced that United’s style of play “will be determined by this group”.

After all, Sir Jim is a specialist in this technical footballing stuff, leveraging his background in petrochemicals and sailing. Above all he is incredibly rich, and it is known, the wealthy are superior: more perceptive, more wise, strategically brilliant, simply superior. Whom else would you trust to oversee a strategic plan of austerity, the building of a modern arena that looks similar to an abstract design, the signing of Benjamin Sesko?

The Modern Soccer Order: Executives Above Coaches

This is a trend we are increasingly seeing in top-tier of the game. For decades, teams mistakenly delegated big footballing decisions to subordinate staff like managers, talent spotters – even footballers. Perhaps it was once possible for a young, innovative manager with a philosophy and energy to join an organization and see their vision supported to fruition. Yet how many companies have such individuals established? 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 individuals with impressive LinkedIn profiles. Better by far to decide the tactics in the boardroom and appoint someone who will adapt their offering accordingly. If managers were formerly chefs, they are now more like delivery personnel: not responsible for the food, but still finally accountable if it arrives cold or leaks out of the box.

Nowadays, a coach's role is increasingly less about crafting the philosophy and more about marketing it: the receptionist on the front desk, the public face for a club they can do little to influence. Enzo Maresca leads a team of literal children into Europe and wins domestic cups, and essentially gets sacked for speaking out. Wilfried Nancy finds his reputation ruined whereas those individuals who appointed him continue to make errors indefinitely.

A Neoliberal Football: Responsibility Only for the Few

And perhaps in a small way this is simply corporate governance at work: the rise of a privileged elite who can never be wrong, whose decisions are always untouchable, whose mistakes can invariably be sacked away without explanation. Appoint the system coach and then dismiss them for playing too much 3-4-3. Bring in the project manager and later bin him for taking too long. And above all show gratitude; for your modest increases in ticket costs, for your new player acquisitions, for the reality that the grownups – regardless of their expertise – remain in control.