Jason Wilcox was “out of order” to Ruben Amorim before sack | OneFootball

An explosive new report reveals Jason Wilcox was “out of order” to Ruben Amorim in the build-up to the Manchester United head coach’s shock dismissal this week.

A Power Struggle

INEOS brought an end to Amorim’s tumultuous tenure on Monday morning after he delivered a fiery press conference at Elland Road the previous day.

Following a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Leeds United on Sunday, the 40-year-old took aim at the club’s executive branch, telling the sporting director and scouting departments to “do their jobs” so he could do his. He made repeated references to himself as the “manager, not the coach” – a clear indication of discontent with the level of influence he wielded, or, conversely, the amount of leverage being exerted on him.

Thomas Tuchel, Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho were also mentioned, three managers known for hands-on approaches which extend far beyond the dugout, as further confirmation of a power struggle unfolding behind the scenes.

In the aftermath of INEOS’s bombshell decision, it was then revealed that Amorim and Wilcox had clashed in an explosive meeting two days before the match against Leeds.

The sporting director is said to have suggested changes to Amorim’s approach, despite the Portuguese coach having previously stated that not even divine intervention would force him away from his 3-4-2-1 system.

But Wilcox’s words were not simply his own, though the director is known to favour a 4-3-3 formation from his days as Manchester City’s academy director. He was also relaying the views of other influential figures at Old Trafford, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and head of recruitment Christopher Vivell – described as “increasingly influential” – also advocating for a switch.

Amorim angrily rejected these views, instead demanding that the players be changed, rather than the system to which he is inexorably wed, and threatened to call his agent to facilitate an exit. Three days later, he got half of his wish.

Two managers, one coach

The initial sense in the aftermath of this acrimonious divorce was that Amorim’s furious reaction escalated the situation, propelling it from an internal dispute into a civil war at the club. His previous emotional outbursts, described as either passion or immaturity depending on the describer’s position, lent weight to this view.

However, it is now understood Wilcox was as culpable as his head coach, if not more so, in the situation exploding.

The Sun reports that well-placed sources at the club believe Wilcox was “out of order” in the one-on-one with Amorim, a meeting they describe as “horrendous”. The 54-year-old is said to have openly “questioned” Amorim’s tactics and told him he “did not have the same pedigree” as other big-name coaches.

United figures dispute this assessment, contending that Wilcox was well “within his rights to provide feedback” in his position as director of football. But the report further reveals the 54-year-old considered himself a “manager behind the scenes” at Old Trafford – a description which “infuriated” Amorim.

“Training ground sources say Wilcox billed himself as ‘like a manager’ and stressed that Amorim was the coach. It is unclear whether Wilcox told Amorim this directly in last Friday’s infamous meeting when Amorim ‘blew up’. But Amorim was made aware of Wilcox’s comments and that led to his extraordinary outburst after United drew 1-1 at Leeds, where he demanded to be referred to as the club’s ‘manager’ and not the ‘head coach’.”

From this perspective, Amorim’s words last Sunday make far more sense, as they were a reflex to the stinging criticism Wilcox had levelled at him two days prior, even if other sources dispute this assessment. Either way, neither man comes out of the confrontation unblemished.

The Dust Settles

Amorim has since returned to Lisbon after he was handed his marching orders, along with his entire coaching staff, having overseen United’s worst record in the Premier League era. He has already been linked with an immediate return to management, however, in a move which would send shockwaves across the Portuguese capital.

Ruben Amorim managerial stats at Man United

Wilcox’s position at the club is also under serious scrutiny, with suggestions that a new sporting director could be hired, as pressure ramps up on an executive with no experience in his current role at a club the size of the Red Devils.

Under-18s coach Darren Fletcher has taken charge of the senior side in Amorim’s absence while United search for a permanent caretaker to appoint until the end of the season. Michael Carrick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are the two frontrunners, with both having previously fulfilled the role before. 

A long-term replacement for Amorim will then be sourced over the summer, when the pool of candidates will grow significantly, though early favourites for the United hotseat are already emerging.

United face Brighton & Hove Albion this afternoon in the third round of the FA Cup, the last hope of securing a trophy this season. The match kicks off at 4:30pm at Old Trafford.

Featured image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images

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