It might be early in the 2025/26 campaign, but the Premier League’s managerial sack race is already heating up. From top clubs with sky-high expectations to mid-table teams enduring early stumbles, a number of bosses are already feeling the heat. Here’s a look at the leading candidates to be the first Premier League manager to leave their post this season — whether by sacking, resignation, or poaching.

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1. Nuno Espirito Santo (Nottingham Forest)

Despite Forest remaining unbeaten, the vibes are… bad. The club’s notoriously impatient owner, Evangelos Marinakis, seems ready to act — again. There are whispers of discontent, and the bizarre nature of Forest’s hierarchy means Nuno could be the first to go purely due to boardroom chaos. Even success on the pitch may not be enough to save him.

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2. Graham Potter (West Ham)

Things are spiraling quickly for Potter. A 3-0 loss to newly-promoted Sunderland and a 5-1 humiliation by Chelsea have exposed cracks in West Ham’s structure. A poor pre-season, ineffective summer recruitment, and a toothless start mean that Potter — once seen as the next big thing — now finds his job under serious threat. His West Ham reign may be shorter and more painful than anyone expected.

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3. Ruben Amorim (Manchester United)

Amorim’s appointment was bold and ambitious, but early performances have been underwhelming. United’s Europa League collapse and a shock Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby have alarm bells ringing. While the club has shown signs of long-term commitment, the fan base is restless. He’s third in the sack race because United might stick by him out of sheer stubbornness — but pressure is mounting.

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4. Daniel Farke (Leeds United)

Farke has Premier League experience — but not the kind you want. His Norwich record was dismal, and after a weak performance against Arsenal, it’s clear Leeds still lack the quality to compete with the league’s elite. Despite a decent result against Everton, another run of losses could see the club act quickly, just like they did in 2022.

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5= Keith Andrews (Brentford)

The Thomas Frank successor was promoted from within — a classic Brentford move. But losing key players and coaching staff has left Andrews with a patchy squad and high expectations. A solid win over Villa gives him some breathing room, but if Brentford sink into the relegation zone, patience may run out quickly.

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5= Vitor Pereira (Wolves)

Wolves have developed a nasty habit of starting seasons terribly. Pereira ended last season well, but early signs — including a dismal pre-season and a poor showing against Bournemouth — point toward a familiar crisis. If the trend continues, a November sacking looks more likely than not.

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7. Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace)

Glasner isn’t under pressure in the traditional sense. He’s done a stellar job at Palace. But if he leaves, it may be due to another club poaching him. He’s on the list purely because, technically, being poached still makes you the first to leave. Unlikely, but not impossible.

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8= Scott Parker (Burnley)

Parker’s record in the Premier League is sketchy at best, and Burnley’s brutal fixture list isn’t helping. Though they beat Sunderland, tougher tests against United, Liverpool, and City loom. Burnley’s defensive approach is already looking exposed — and if results don’t follow soon, Parker’s position could become untenable.

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8= Eddie Howe (Newcastle United)

Howe has credit in the bank after delivering Champions League football, but Newcastle’s transfer window was messy, and they’ve started sluggishly. The “Howe Out” noise is more hopeful than realistic at this point — mostly driven by impatient fans and tabloid speculation — but if results don’t improve, the conversation could shift fast.

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10. Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth)

Iraola remains one of the safer managers despite a difficult summer. His side struggled early, but the club seems unlikely to pin the blame on him. Only a disastrous string of results would place him in serious danger.

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Conclusion

While the sack race often throws up surprises, three names stand out in the early running: Nuno, Potter, and Amorim. Nuno’s toxic boardroom environment, Potter’s imploding team, and Amorim’s teetering Manchester United make them the leading contenders. The Premier League rarely allows much time for course correction — and someone, sooner rather than later, will be the first casualty of 2025/26.