Cardiff City Football Club is a professional association football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club was founded in 1899 as Riverside A.F.C. by members of a local cricket team. The team played in Welsh amateur leagues until turning professional in 1910 and joining the Southern Football League. Ten years later, Cardiff were elected into The Football League.
The team was initially selected by a committee made up of the club's board members. Davy McDougall was the first manager in the club's history, being appointed in 1910 for the team's inaugural season in the Southern Football League. He was replaced after one season by Fred Stewart who oversaw the club's entry into The Football League and promotion to the First Division. Stewart also led the side to victories in the 1927 FA Cup Final and 1927 FA Charity Shield before stepping down in 1933. Billy McCandless was the first Cardiff manager to win a league title when he led his side to first place in the 1946–47 Third Division South.
In the 1960s, Cardiff entered European competition for the first time and manager Jimmy Scoular led the team to the semi-final of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1968. The club experienced a downturn in fortunes in the late 1970s and 1980s, culminating in relegation to the Fourth Division under Alan Durban. A gradual improvement in the 1990s included both Frank Burrows and Eddie May achieving promotions during their tenures. Financial investment after 2000 saw the club reach the First Division under Lennie Lawrence before returning to the top tier of English football, the Premier League, for the first time in 52 years under Malky Mackay in 2012.
As of May 2024, there has been a total of 41 managers and 8 caretaker managers. Kenny Hibbitt has had the most spells at the club, taking the job on three occasions. Three managers, Len Ashurst, Eddie May, Cyril Spiers, have taken the job on two occasions. The longest serving and most successful manager is Fred Stewart who was in charge for 22 years, won seven cups and achieved promotion twice. Sabri Lamouchi is the most recent manager, having been dismissed on 16 May 2023.