Cardiff City: Solskjaer leads race to replace Malky Mackay

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

The search has started for a new manager of Cardiff City and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, managing in Norway at the moment, is already the bookies' firm favourite for the job.

The former Manchester United striker is one of the brightest managers in European football and has been consistently linked with a move to the Premier League in the last few years.

The departure of Malky Mackay follows a turbulent spell for Cardiff and it now remains to be seen who will be willing to work under City's billionaire owner Vincent Tan, but here are some of the names being linked with the job:

THE CONTENDERS

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER

A pupil of Sir Alex Ferguson's managerial finishing school at Old Trafford, Solksjaer has earned a fine reputation with Molde in his home country of Norway, winning the league twice and the cup once.

The "baby-faced assassin" would certainly be attracted by the Premier League but it remains to be seen if mentor Ferguson would advise him to stay away from a club like Cardiff City.

SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON

Eriksson has the sort of worldwide gravitas it's believed Tan is looking for and, having travelled the globe in pursuit of work, may have no qualms in throwing his lot in with Cardiff.

The former England manager is currently working in China with club side Guangzhou R&F, but could he resist the lure of another shot at the Premier League?

CRAIG BELLAMY

Cardiff-born Bellamy is a lifelong fan and made his dream return to his hometown club to end his playing career. The former Wales captain played a key role as they eventually made it to the Premier League as Championship winners in 2013.

He has not said he wants the job but, if he is keen on a career in coaching, perhaps this could be his chance. Bellamy is a cult hero to Bluebird fans.

YILMAZ VURAL

Turk Vural has managed more than 20 clubs in his homeland and was recently linked with a move to Cardiff. The club have repeatedly denied being in contact with the 60-year-old and he is unlikely to get the job, but his name refuses to go away.