With just one point from five games and on the back of a 3 - 0 hiding at West Brom, Paulo Di Canio has become the first Premier League manager to lose his job this season.
He has been in charge of Sunderland for just 13 League games since his controversial appointment in March.
Cardiff have to wait until matchday 19 to play the Black Cats with the first game between the sides this season at CCS on December 28th.
Coach Kevin Ball will take temporary charge of the team, with ex-Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo an early favourite for the job and Gus Poyet is also linked.
Di Canio timeline (from BBC Sport)
- Born in Rome, 9 July 1968
- Played in Italy for Lazio, Juventus, Napoli, AC Milan, Cisco Roma
- Played in Britain for Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday, West Ham and Charlton
- Fined £10,000 in 1998 by the FA for pushing referee Paul Alcock to the ground after being sent off against Arsenal
- Wins Fifa Fair Play award for sportsmanship in 2001 for catching ball and stopping play v Everton to allow injured keeper Paul Gerrard to receive treatment
- Criticised in 2005 for making fascist-style salute in Lazio game
- Appointed Swindon boss in May 2011; guides them into League One a year later
- Resigns as Swindon boss in February 2013 citing issues with the club's hierarchy after sale of star player Matt Ritchie
- Replaces Martin O'Neill as Sunderland boss in March 2013; club avoid relegation
- Sacked after four defeats in five league games of 2013-14