The new Premier League season is barely out of the blocks, yet the managerial sack race is already heating up – and surprisingly, Manchester United’s new man Ruben Amorim has found himself third in line to potentially face the axe. It’s a remarkable position for someone who was heralded as a bold, progressive appointment just a few months ago. So how has it come to this so quickly?

A Rocky Start at United

Ruben Amorim’s arrival at Old Trafford was meant to signal a new era. A visionary tactician with a glowing reputation from Sporting Lisbon, Amorim was handpicked by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s new football operation as the man to modernise Manchester United. But after a dismal pre-season, a stumbling league start, and – most damningly – a humiliating Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town, the mood around the club has soured fast.

This isn’t just about results. It’s the manner of performances that is sparking concern. United have been described as “staggeringly and at times unwatchably bad,” continuing the lifeless football that plagued the latter days of Erik ten Hag’s reign. That cup exit may prove a symbolic nail in the coffin — the kind of result fans and owners remember when tough decisions are made.

Amorim: The Symbol of Ratcliffe’s Vision

Here’s the dilemma: Amorim isn’t just another manager. He represents the cornerstone of the Ineos-led rebuild at Old Trafford. The club has clearly tied its fortunes – and reputation – to the Portuguese coach. To cut him loose this early would be a serious embarrassment for Ratcliffe and co., making it appear that the club’s much-hyped new football structure has no better judgement than the chaotic Glazer years.

That’s why Amorim’s position is so precarious, yet oddly safe at the same time. He’s high in the sack race because of United’s volatile form and simmering fan frustration. But he’s also safe because firing him would be a colossal admission of failure from the top. United might just keep him out of pure stubbornness.

Who’s (Not) Safe in the Race?

Ahead of Amorim in the sack race sits Graham Potter at West Ham and Nuno Espirito Santo at Nottingham Forest. Potter, once a darling of tactical purists at Brighton, is quickly seeing his stock plummet. His West Ham side were battered 3-0 by Sunderland and 5-1 by Chelsea – not the kind of results that earn you time. The buzz of his Chelsea appointment now feels like a lifetime ago. If things don’t turn fast, he could be out before October.

As for Nuno, his position at Forest seems bizarrely doomed by success. After guiding the club to Europe, you’d think he’d earned a grace period – but Evangelos Marinakis is known for his ruthless streak. Whispers suggest he’s already looking to bring Ange Postecoglou back to the Premier League, and Nuno could find himself out purely as a result of an owner chasing shinier toys.

Amorim’s Precarious Position

So where does this leave Amorim? In truth, he’s in a unique spot. He’s not failing spectacularly – at least not yet – but he hasn’t done anything to lift the mood, either. A manager in his position desperately needs a signature win, a tactical masterclass, or even just a sign that the team is responding to his ideas. Right now, there’s no such signal. Just murmurs of confusion, frustration, and doubt.

And United’s upcoming fixtures don’t make for pleasant reading: with Liverpool, Villa, and a surging Brighton on the horizon, things could get worse before they get better. If they do, all the goodwill of Amorim’s appointment could be gone in a flash.

Could He Actually Be Sacked?

Let’s be honest – it’s possible, but still unlikely. Amorim would have to truly lose the dressing room or spiral into a run of catastrophic results to get the boot this early. But being third in the sack race means he’s officially in the danger zone. It suggests his position, once seen as secure under a long-term rebuild plan, is already under scrutiny.

In today’s Premier League, “project managers” don’t get time unless they deliver immediately. Vision and ideology are all well and good, but patience has a short shelf life when fans are booing and rival clubs are surging ahead.

Final Word

Ruben Amorim’s placement in the sack race isn’t just about poor performances. It’s a reflection of the high-stakes, high-pressure environment that surrounds Manchester United today. He was supposed to be the face of a new era, a tactical innovator to lead a cultural reset. Instead, he’s already fighting for survival – and that’s the brutal reality of modern top-flight management.

Whether he sinks or swims will depend on more than just tactics. It’ll depend on buy-in from players, patience from the board, and perhaps most critically, whether fans still believe in what he’s trying to build. Because once that belief is gone, even a bold new project can be abandoned overnight. Just ask Graham Potter.