Malky Mackay sacked: A factfile of the former Cardiff City manager's career

Malky Mackay remonstrates on the sidelines during Cardiff's 3-0 loss to Southampton (GETTY IMAGES)

Cardiff are on the lookout for a new manager after the acrimonious and messy departure of Malky Mackay.

Here, we take a look at Mackay's career on and off the pitch that led to him being 'relieved of his duties' by the Premier League club.

Malky Mackay factfile:

1972: Born February 19, Belshill, North Lanarkshire.

1990: After coming through the youth ranks at Queen's Park, Mackay makes 70 appearances.

1993: Moves to Celtic on a free transfer.

1998: May - Part of Celtic's SPL-winning squad.

September - Joins Norwich for £350,000.

2004: April - Wins first of five Scotland caps aged 32 in a friendly against Denmark.

May - Promoted to the Premier League with Norwich and is named in the First Division team of the year.

September - Joins West Ham for £300,000 after more than 200 appearances for the Canaries.

2005: May - West Ham win promotion to the top flight.

August - Joins Watford on a free transfer.

2006: Watford win Championship play-off final.

2008: Mackay makes just one appearance in the 2007-08 season.

November - Named caretaker manager after Aidy Boothroyd leaves Vicarage Road. Brendan Rodgers is eventually named Watford boss with Mackay becoming coach.

2009: June - Rodgers leaves and Mackay is named Watford boss. Guides the Hornets to 16th in the Championship.

2011: Watford finish 14th.

June 17: Joins Cardiff on a three-year contract.

2012: February 26 - Beaten 3-2 on penalties in the League Cup final by Liverpool after the match had ended 2-2 after extra time.

May - Cardiff finish sixth in the Championship but lose 5-0 on aggregate to West Ham in the play-offs.

2013: April 16 - Guides Cardiff to the Barclays Premier League following a 0-0 draw at home to Charlton.

May 21: Named as the LMA manager of the year in the Championship.

August: Cardiff start the season with a 2-0 defeat to West Ham but respond with a 3-2 win over Manchester City.

October 9: Cardiff owner Vincent Tan suspends Mackay's head of recruitment, Iain Moody, and replaces him with unknown Alisher Apsalyamov - reportedly a friend of his son. Moody's departure is later confirmed.

December 14: A 1-0 win over West Brom ends a five-game winless run.

December 16: Tan tells Mackay he is unhappy at him saying he wants to sign three new players in the January transfer window.

December 19: Tan tells Mackay to resign or be sacked.

December 21: Mackay insists he will not resign from his post after Tan is present for a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.

December 22: Chairman Mehmet Dalman says Mackay will remain in charge at Cardiff for the "foreseeable future".

December 26: Cardiff fans protest against Tan before and during a 3-0 home defeat to Southampton.

December 27: Mackay is relieved of his duties by Cardiff.

PA