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Iturns out he endured a loss to lower-league opposition. Survive a decisive continental showpiece against one of the worst Tottenham teams in living memory. He withstood home defeats against domestic rivals, a lowly league position, the tactical inflexibility, undermining some of the club’s most promising academy products, a poor winning percentage, labeling the squad the worst the club has ever seen. Yet, there existed a single opponent against whom the Portuguese coach would not be allowed to tango. You come at Jason Wilcox, and you best not miss.

Unfortunately, similar to numerous top-flight defender during Blackburn Rovers' title-winning 1994-95 season, Amorim took on the executive and seems to have failed. The most casual observer can see the paradoxical situation: a manager who frequently berated his squad for losing one-on-one duels crumbling when confronted by the white heat and animal charisma of one of England's top division's most feared football executives.

And frankly, this whole painful saga seems to paint the director in a whole new light. It may have been tempting, based on his brief stint of experience at Southampton, to view him as merely a functionary in the United exoskeleton: an individual whose appointment was due as much to his close relationship with ex-colleague Omar Berrada rather than any demonstrable skill. How mistaken everyone was. By masterfully outmanoeuvring United’s feted head coach, as he outmanoeuvred the unfortunate Dan Ashworth before him, Jason Wilcox has proved himself to be among football's strategic masterminds: a strategic mind of which the club's mid-table rivals are now rightly wary.

The Tactical Clash Over System and Ideology

To illustrate, it was the director who being involved in the hierarchy that appointed the rigid 3-4-3 advocate Amorim originally, was instrumental in attempting to convince Amorim to abandon his beloved formation. Unsurprisingly, these entreaties met a certain resistance. However, such directives hold greater authority when delivered from the mouth of a man the unimpeachable soccer background he possesses, holder of three England caps and a role in a championship team from 31 years ago.

Maybe eventually Jason Wilcox might agree to outline his thought processes publicly. Perhaps at some point he might be asked regarding why the coach is walking away with full compensation, with no penalty clause in place. But Jason Wilcox speaks rarely in public, and with very good reason. The real thinkers of this sport – men like him – simply operate on a plane exceeding our prosaic understanding. If he ever did speak, probably we would perceive is a series of ultrasonic blips and four-dimensional whirring. Wanting is not quite equivalent to being ready to comprehend it.

An Ultimate Power In the Throne

Naturally, by focusing our attention on Jason Wilcox we are obscuring the real power behind the modern United throne. The director is, after all, simply carrying out the commands of his ultimate line manager the billionaire owner, who in private has made very clear his desire for a back four. It is reported, the owner has also proposed playing Bryan Mbeumo as a right wing-back. The owner is eager for the club to adopt data science and analytics. According to ESPN, during a leadership summit soon after his minority ownership, he announced that the team's approach of play “will be decided by this group”.

Ultimately, Sir Jim is an expert in these intricate footballing stuff, drawing from his background in industry and sailing. Most importantly he remains immensely wealthy, and it is known, the wealthy are the best of us: more insightful, more wise, strategically brilliant, simply better. Who else would you trust to oversee a strategic plan of cost-cutting, the construction of a new stadium that looks similar to someone’s leftover knitting, the acquisition of a new striker?

The Modern Soccer Hierarchy: Executives Over Coaches

This represents a shift we are increasingly seeing in top-tier football. Historically, teams mistakenly delegated big footballing decisions to subordinate staff like managers, scouts – even footballers. Perhaps it was once possible for a young, innovative manager with a philosophy and energy to go into a club and implement their plan through to completion. Yet how many businesses have such individuals set up? How many large-scale layoffs have they overseen? Far preferable to invest the real power where it belongs: the executive class, the open-necked shirt brigade, the individuals with the jaw-dropping professional resumes. It is wiser to decide the strategy by the directors and hire a coach who will adapt their methods accordingly. If coaches were formerly chefs, they have become more akin to delivery personnel: not really creating the food, yet ultimately answerable should it be delivered poorly or leaks out of the box.

Nowadays, a coach's role has become less 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 influence. A coach at Chelsea leads a team of literal children into the Champions League and secures domestic cups, and effectively gets sacked for speaking out. Wilfried Nancy sees his standing damaged while those individuals who hired him live to blunder indefinitely.

The Modern Corporate Game: Responsibility Only for the Coaches

And possibly in a small way this is simply corporate governance at work: the elevation of a privileged overclass who can never be wrong, whose decisions are always untouchable, whose errors can invariably be resolved by sacking without explanation. Appoint the 3-4-3 coach and then dismiss him for playing excessively that system. Bring in the project manager and then discard them for taking too long. And most importantly be grateful; for your modest season ticket price rises, for the latest summer signings, for the reality that the adults – however well qualified – are in charge.