The Coach's Critical Mistake? Taking On The Executives and an Infallible Executive Tier

Transpired he was able to withstand losing against Grimsby. Survive a decisive continental showpiece against one of the worst Tottenham teams for many years. He could survive home defeats to domestic rivals, a lowly league position, his rigid approach, squandering some of the club’s best academy products, the 32% win rate, calling the squad the poorest in Manchester United history. Yet, there existed one adversary against whom the Portuguese coach was not permitted to tango. You come at the sporting director, and you best not miss.

In truth, this entire painful saga seems to paint Jason Wilcox in a whole new light. Perhaps it might have been tempting, given his nine months in a similar role with the Saints, to view him as merely a drudge within the club's structure: a man who owed his position largely to his close relationship with his former boss Omar Berrada as any demonstrable skill. How mistaken we all were. By masterfully outsmarting the club's celebrated manager, as he outmanoeuvred the hapless Dan Ashworth before him, he has demonstrated to be among football's strategic masterminds: a strategic mind of which United’s mid-table rivals will now be justifiably concerned.

The Tactical Conflict Regarding Formation and Philosophy

To illustrate, it was Jason Wilcox who being involved in the leadership that appointed the rigid 3-4-3 advocate Amorim in the first place, played a key role in trying to persuade him to abandon his beloved 3-4-3. Naturally, these entreaties faced pushback. But perhaps these judgements hold greater authority when delivered by a man of a man the impeccable football pedigree he possesses, holder of three England caps and a contributor to a title-winning side from 31 years ago.

Maybe eventually he might agree to explain his reasoning publicly. Maybe one day he might be asked why Amorim 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 of this sport – individuals such as him – function on a plane beyond our own prosaic understanding. If he ever did speak, probably all we would hear would be ultrasonic blips and complex calculations. Wanting is not the same as being ready to comprehend it.

The Ultimate Power In the Throne

But of course, in training our focus on Jason Wilcox we are obscuring the true genius behind the club's current leadership. Jason Wilcox is, after all, simply carrying out the commands of his line manager Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who privately has emphasized his preference for a back four. According to reports, Ratcliffe has also proposed playing Bryan Mbeumo as a right wing-back. The owner is eager for United to adopt data science and metrics. According to ESPN, during a leadership summit early in his investment, he announced that United’s style to football “will be determined by this group”.

After all, Ratcliffe is an expert in these intricate footballing stuff, leveraging his previous experience in petrochemicals and yachting. Most importantly he is incredibly rich, and it is known, the rich are the best of us: more insightful, more wise, strategically brilliant, fundamentally better. Who else could one trust to manage a strategic plan of austerity, the construction of a modern arena that appears a lot like an abstract design, the acquisition of Benjamin Sesko?

The New Soccer Order: Directors Above Managers

This represents a shift that is becoming prevalent at the elite levels football. Historically, teams mistakenly delegated big footballing decisions to low-level employees such as coaches, talent spotters – even footballers. Maybe previously possible for an up-and-coming, visionary coach with a philosophy and energy to join an organization and see their vision through to completion. But how many companies have these guys established? How many mass redundancies have they managed? Better by far to invest the real power where it belongs: the leadership tier, the casually dressed executives, the individuals with the jaw-dropping LinkedIn profiles. It is wiser to decide the tactics in the boardroom and hire someone who can tailor their offering accordingly. If coaches were once chefs, they have become more akin to Deliveroo drivers: not responsible for the product, but still finally accountable if it arrives poorly or fails of the box.

In the meantime, a coach's role is increasingly not about defining the vision and more about marketing it: the receptionist of the operation, the public face for a club they have minimal power to influence. Enzo Maresca takes a squad of very young players into the Champions League and secures domestic cups, and essentially is dismissed for talking. A manager at Celtic finds his standing damaged whereas those individuals who hired him live to blunder indefinitely.

The Neoliberal Football: Accountability Only for the Coaches

And perhaps on some microcosmic level this is simply corporate governance at work: the elevation of a gilded overclass who are infallible, whose decisions remain untouchable, whose mistakes can always be sacked away without explanation. Hire the 3-4-3 coach and then dismiss him for using excessively that system. Bring in the process guy and then discard them for requiring excessive time. 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.