As crazy as it may sound, Pep Guardiola – the only manager to win four consecutive English Premier League titles – could be the next man to be sacked.
In the opposite dugout at Etihad Stadium, where Manchester City hosts Manchester United on Sept 14 (11.30pm, Malaysian time), Ruben Amorim is also fighting for his future. Neither wants to follow Nuno Espírito Santo, dismissed by Nottingham Forest on Sept 9, into unemployment.
Forest has since appointed Ange Postecoglou, with the hopes that he can deliver trophies.
Guardiola, one of the greatest managers of his generation, has not been the same since separating from his wife Cristina Serra late last year after more than 30 years together. Last season was difficult – Manchester City failed to win a trophy for only the second time since 2016 and suffered four straight league defeats for the first time under his management. Some even joked that the real tactical genius had left the family home.
City has spent nearly £300 million in the January and August transfer windows to catch its rivals but started the season with two losses in three games. Another defeat, especially against United, will add further pressure.
The owners stood by Guardiola last season, though he admitted he would have been sacked at most other clubs. Patience is wearing thin, however, with City already six points behind league leader Liverpool, which could extend the gap by beating Burnley.
Amorim, who replaced Erik ten Hag on Nov 1, 2024, will take charge of his 31st Premier League game but is yet to record back-to-back wins. United beat Burnley last time out, giving him a chance to change that in the derby.
Unlike Guardiola, Amorim has little goodwill with the owners and must string together results, especially after the shock League Cup loss to League Two side Grimsby. The Burnley win gave him breathing space, but the derby is a brutal follow-up.
He has already dropped goalkeeper Andre Onana after a string of costly errors. Now he must pick between Altay Bayindir, also unreliable, veteran Tom Heaton – who last played Premier League football in 2019 – or 23-year-old Senne Lammens, a new signing yet to feature in England.
Lammens is expected to become United’s long-term No. 1, but throwing him into a fiery derby could either destroy or accelerate his confidence.
Meanwhile, Nuno’s exit makes him the joint 12th quickest manager to be sacked at the start of a Premier League season.
Despite saving Forest from relegation in 2023-24 and qualifying for Europe, he fell out with owner Evangelos Marinakis over transfers. He had complained the squad was “unbalanced” and “very, very far” from being ready. Forest sits 10th with four points from three matches.
Quick-fire sackings
Paul Sturrock (Southampton): Aug 23, 2004 – nine days into the new season
Peter Reid (Manchester City): Aug 26, 1993 – 12 days
Kenny Dalglish (Newcastle): Aug 17, 1998 – 12 days
Bobby Robson (Newcastle): Aug 30, 2004 – 16 days
Alan Curbishley (West Ham): Sept 3, 2008 – 18 days
Kevin Keegan (Newcastle): Sept 4, 2008 – 19 days
Christian Gross (Tottenham): Sept 5, 1998 – 21 days
Ruud Gullit (Newcastle): Aug 28, 1999 – 21 days
Howard Wilkinson (Leeds): Sept 9, 1996 – 23 days
Graeme Souness (Blackburn): Sept 6, 2004 – 23 days
Gianluca Vialli (Chelsea): Sept 12, 2000 – 24 days
Scott Parker (Bournemouth): Aug 30, 2022 – 25 days
Nuno Espírito Santo (Nottingham Forest): Sept 9, 2025 – 25 days
Fixtures (Malaysian time)
Sept 13
Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest (7.30pm)
Bournemouth vs Brighton (10pm)
Newcastle vs Wolves (10pm)
Everton vs Aston Villa (10pm)
Crystal Palace vs Sunderland (10pm)
Fulham vs Leeds (10pm)
Sept 14
West Ham vs Tottenham (12.30am)
Brentford vs Chelsea (3am)
Burnley vs Liverpool (9pm)
Manchester City vs Manchester United (11.30pm)
