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Itbecame clear the manager endured losing against lower-league opposition. Survive a decisive European final against one of the worst Spurs sides for many years. He could survive losing at home against domestic rivals, a lowly league position, an unwavering system, undermining the team's best academy products, the 32% win rate, labeling the squad the poorest in Manchester United history. But there was one adversary against whom the Portuguese coach would not be allowed to tango. You come at Jason Wilcox, you had better succeed.

Unfortunately, like many a top-flight defender in Blackburn’s championship 1994-95 season, Amorim took on Jason Wilcox and seems to have missed. Even the most distracted of readers can see the irony here: a coach who frequently berated his squad for failing in one-on-one duels succumbing in the face of the white heat and animal charisma of one of the Premier League’s most intimidating football executives.

And frankly, this entire bruising episode seems to paint the director in a different perspective. It may have been easy, based on his brief stint of experience at Southampton, to regard Jason Wilcox as little more than a drudge in the United exoskeleton: a man who owed his position largely to his close relationship with ex-colleague a fellow executive as any demonstrable skill. How mistaken everyone was. By masterfully outsmarting United’s feted manager, just as he bested the unfortunate a previous executive before him, Jason Wilcox has demonstrated as one of football's strategic masterminds: a tactical intellect that United’s mid-table rivals will now be rightly wary.

The Tactical Conflict Over System and Philosophy

For example, this was the director who having been part of the hierarchy that appointed the 3-4-3 fundamentalist the coach originally, was instrumental in trying to persuade Amorim to abandon his favored formation. Naturally, these entreaties were resisted. However, such directives hold greater authority when delivered from the mouth with the impeccable soccer background he possesses, holder of international appearances and a role in a title-winning side decades past.

Perhaps in time Jason Wilcox may be persuaded to explain his reasoning publicly. Maybe one day questions may arise regarding why the coach is walking away with full compensation, with no penalty clause activated. The director seldom speaks in public, and with very good reason. The real thinkers in football – men like him – function on a plane beyond our own prosaic understanding. Were he to speak, most likely we would perceive is a series of ultrasonic blips and four-dimensional whirring. Desiring an explanation is not the same as being ready to receive.

An Supreme Authority In the Throne

But of course, by focusing our attention on the sporting director we overlook the true genius behind the club's current leadership. 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. Ratcliffe is keen for United to adopt analytics and metrics. According to ESPN, during a leadership summit early in his minority ownership, he declared that the team's approach of play “shall be determined by this group”.

Ultimately, Ratcliffe is an expert in this technical football matters, leveraging his background in industry and sailing. Above all he remains immensely wealthy, and it is known, the wealthy are the best of us: more perceptive, sagacious, more tactically astute, fundamentally better. Whom else could one trust to manage an enlightened programme of austerity, the building of a modern arena that looks similar to an abstract design, the signing of Benjamin Sesko?

The New Soccer Hierarchy: Directors Above Managers

This is a trend that is becoming prevalent in top-tier of the game. Historically, clubs foolishly entrusted big footballing decisions to low-level employees such as coaches, talent spotters – even footballers. Perhaps it was once possible for an up-and-coming, innovative manager with a philosophy and energy to go into a club and see their vision through to completion. But how many companies have such individuals established? How many mass redundancies have they overseen? Better by far to invest genuine authority where it rightly belongs: the executive class, the open-necked shirt brigade, the guys with impressive professional resumes. Better by far to determine the tactics in the boardroom and hire someone who can tailor their offering to suit. If managers were once chefs, they have become more like delivery personnel: not responsible for the product, yet finally accountable should it be delivered poorly or fails of the box.

In the meantime, a coach's role is increasingly less about crafting the philosophy and more about marketing it: the front-facing representative of the operation, the public face for a club they can do little to change. A coach at Chelsea takes a squad of literal children into Europe and wins two medium-sized trophies, and effectively gets sacked for speaking out. A manager at Celtic finds his standing damaged while the people who appointed him live to blunder another day.

The Modern Corporate Game: Accountability for the Few

And possibly on some microcosmic level this represents corporate governance in action: the elevation of a gilded elite who can never be wrong, whose choices remain untouchable, whose errors can always be sacked away without justification. Appoint the system coach and then dismiss them for using excessively that system. Hire the process guy and later bin them for taking excessive time. And above all show gratitude; for the incremental increases in ticket costs, for the latest summer signings, for the fact that the adults – however well qualified – remain in control.