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Iturns out Ruben Amorim was able to withstand defeat by lower-league opposition. Survive losing a crucial continental showpiece versus one of the worst Tottenham teams for many years. He withstood losing at home against domestic rivals, finishing 15th, an unwavering system, laying waste to the team's best academy products, the 32% win rate, labeling his team the worst in Manchester United history. Yet, there existed a single opponent against whom the Portuguese coach would not be allowed to tango. If you challenge the sporting director, and you best not miss.

Regrettably, similar to numerous Premiership defender in Blackburn’s championship campaign, Amorim took on the executive and seems to have missed. Even the most casual observer will notice the paradoxical situation: a manager who frequently berated at his players for losing individual battles crumbling when confronted by the white heat and animal charisma of a England's top division's most intimidating football executives.

And frankly, this entire painful saga seems to paint the director in a different perspective. Perhaps it might have been easy, given his nine months in a similar role with the Saints, 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 Omar Berrada as any verifiable talent. How mistaken everyone was. In brilliantly outmanoeuvring the club's celebrated manager, just as he bested the unfortunate Dan Ashworth before him, he has demonstrated as one of the sport’s strategic masterminds: a tactical intellect that the club's competitors are now justifiably concerned.

A Tactical Clash Regarding System and Ideology

For example, this was Jason Wilcox , after having been part of the leadership that appointed the rigid 3-4-3 advocate the coach originally, was instrumental in trying to persuade Amorim to abandon his favored 3-4-3. Naturally, these entreaties were resisted. But perhaps these judgements carry more weight when issued from the mouth of a man the unimpeachable soccer background he possesses, a veteran of three England caps and a role in a title-winning side from 31 years ago.

Maybe eventually he might agree to outline his thought processes to the rest of us. Maybe one day questions may arise why Amorim is walking away with a full payout, without any compensation reduction clause in place. The director seldom speaks publicly, and with very good reason. The real thinkers in football – individuals such as him – function at a level beyond our own prosaic understanding. Were he to speak, probably all we would hear is a series of ultrasonic blips and complex calculations. Wanting is not equivalent to being ready to receive.

An Supreme Authority In Command

Naturally, in training our focus on the sporting director we overlook the true genius behind the club's current leadership. Jason Wilcox is, in reality, merely executing the commands of his ultimate superior the billionaire owner, who privately has emphasized his preference for a four-man defense. It is reported, the owner has also suggested deploying the forward in a wing-back role. Ratcliffe is keen for United to adopt data science and metrics. According to ESPN, during a leadership summit soon after his investment, he announced that the team's approach to football “shall be decided by this group”.

Ultimately, Sir Jim is an expert in these intricate footballing stuff, leveraging his background in industry and yachting. Most importantly he remains immensely wealthy, and as we all know, the rich are superior: more insightful, sagacious, more tactically astute, fundamentally superior. Who else would you trust to manage a strategic plan of cost-cutting, the building of a modern arena that looks a lot like someone’s leftover knitting, the acquisition of Benjamin Sesko?

The Modern Football Hierarchy: Executives Above Coaches

This is a trend we are increasingly seeing in top-tier football. Historically, teams mistakenly delegated big footballing decisions to low-level employees such as coaches, talent spotters – even footballers. Maybe previously feasible for a young, visionary coach with a philosophy and drive to go into an organization and see their vision supported to fruition. Yet how many businesses have such individuals set up? How many mass redundancies have they overseen? Far preferable to place genuine authority where it rightly belongs: the leadership tier, the casually dressed executives, the guys with the jaw-dropping professional resumes. It is wiser to decide the strategy in the boardroom and appoint a coach who will adapt their methods to suit. If coaches were once chefs, they have become more akin to delivery personnel: not really responsible for the food, but still ultimately answerable if it arrives cold or leaks out of the box.

In the meantime, a coach's role has become less about defining the vision and more about marketing it: the receptionist of the operation, the visible figurehead for a club they have minimal power to change. Enzo Maresca leads a team of very young players into the Champions League and secures two medium-sized trophies, and essentially gets sacked for talking. Wilfried Nancy finds his reputation ruined while the people who appointed him live to blunder another day.

The Neoliberal Game: Accountability Only for the Coaches

And perhaps on some microcosmic level this represents neoliberalism at work: the elevation of a gilded overclass who are infallible, whose choices are always sacrosanct, whose errors can invariably be sacked away without justification. Appoint the 3-4-3 coach and then dismiss him for using too much that system. Hire the process guy and then discard him for requiring too long. And most importantly show gratitude; for your modest season ticket price rises, for your new player acquisitions, for the fact that the adults – regardless of their expertise – are in charge.