Ruben Amorim would become Manchester United’s second-longest manager in the Premier League era should he spend three years at the club.
The Portuguese has been promised time to prove he is a “great” coach by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, despite overseeing United’s worst league finish since 1973-74.
Premier League managers are rarely afforded the luxury of long spells in charge without achieving success, with two bosses already sacked so far this campaign.
Of the current crop of top-flight managers, just Pep Guardiola (Manchester City), Mikel Arteta (Arsenal), Marco Silva (Fulham) and Eddie Howe (Newcastle United) have spent three or more years at the helm of their clubs.
How many United managers get three years?
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has said he will give United head coach Ruben Amorim three years to prove himslef
In the Premier League era, no United manager other than Sir Alex Ferguson has been given three or more years in charge at Old Trafford.
While Ferguson lasted just shy of 27 full seasons, it is one of his former players in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who ranks the next best in the Premier League era – falling less than a month short of a three-year stint.
So-called bigger names were afforded less time with Jose Mourinho (two years, six months), Erik ten Hag (two years, four months) and Louis van Gaal (one year, 10 months) all receiving their marching orders by the Old Trafford hierarchy.
Amorim has already spent longer at the helm than David Moyes despite the latter winning seven more matches from the same number of games.
Interim manager Ralf Rangnick won 10 of his 24 top-flight games, compared to Amorim’s current record of 10 wins from 34 league matches.
Is there a correlation between time and success?
Sir Alex Ferguson (right) won 13 Premier League titles during his time in charge of Manchester United
Of the 12 managers to win the Premier League, seven completed spells lasting for three or more years.
Claudio Ranieri (Leicester City), Antonio Conte (Chelsea), Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea) and Jose Mourinho in his second spell at Chelsea all failed to see out three years.
Current Liverpool boss Arne Slot is in his second year at Anfield after winning the title last campaign.
Just 11 non-British and Irish have lasted three or more years at a ‘big six’ club during the Premier League era.
From that list, six won Premier League titles, including Arsene Wenger, Mourinho and Guardiola.
The other five all either won a major trophy or reached the Champions League semi-finals at a minimum.
Although Amorim’s league form currently suggests being a long way away from winning a title charge, he has featured in a Europa League final with the club.
But if history suggests anything, the United boss would need to deliver a trophy or go on a deep run in the Champions League to retain his position at Old Trafford.
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