Constantinous "Tarki" Micallef (born 24 January 1961 in Cardiff

Cardiff

Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...

) is a Welsh

Welsh people

The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...

 former professional footballer.

Career

The son of a Greek restaurateur, Micallef was born in the Grangetown

Grangetown, Cardiff

Grangetown is a community in the south of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It is one of the largest districts in the south of the city and is bordered by Riverside, Canton and Butetown. The River Taff winds its way through the area...

 area of Cardiff

Cardiff

Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...

 and was a Welsh schoolboy international as a youngster before joining Cardiff City

Cardiff City F.C.

Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...

 as a trainee, working his way up to the first team, making his debut in December 1978 at the age of seventeen against Sheffield United

Sheffield United F.C.

Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...

, which was to be his only appearance for the Bluebirds that year. Eventually he established himself in the team during the 1981–82 season but in September 1983 he moved to Newport County

Newport County A.F.C.

Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...

 as part of a five man swap deal which saw Cardiff players Micallef, John Lewis

John Lewis (footballer born 1955)

John Lewis is a former Welsh football player.-Career:Lewis was spotted by Cardiff City while playing for Pontllanfraith in a Welsh league match and was quickly offered a contract by then manager Jimmy Andrews. He made his Cardiff debut against Blackburn Rovers in September 1978...

 and Linden Jones

Linden Jones

For the Welsh cricketer see Lyndon Jones.Linden Jones is a former Welsh professional footballer.-Club career:Jones was born in New Tredegar, Monmouthshire. He began his career at Cardiff City joining them as an apprentice at the age of sixteen. He made his début on 24 February 1979 in a 1-0...

 move to Newport in exchange for Nigel Vaughan

Nigel Vaughan

Nigel Mark Vaughan is a Welsh former professional footballer and Wales international. He gained ten international caps during his career.-Club career:...

 and Karl Elsey

Karl Elsey

Karl William Elsey is a Welsh former professional footballer. His clubs included Swansea City, Queens Park Rangers, Newport County, Cardiff City, Gillingham, Reading and Maidstone United...

.

However he only remained at Newport for one year before joining Gillingham

Gillingham F.C.

Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...

 on a short term non-contract basis, making two appearances before rejoining Cardiff, only playing a handful of games as they were relegated to the third division. He spent one year at Bristol Rovers

Bristol Rovers F.C.

Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....

 before moving to non-league football with Barry Town

Barry Town F.C.

Barry Town FC are a football team based in Barry. They dominated the League of Wales during the 1990s, but finished bottom in 2003-04 and were relegated...

.

After football

After retiring from football after leaving Barry Town

Barry Town F.C.

Barry Town FC are a football team based in Barry. They dominated the League of Wales during the 1990s, but finished bottom in 2003-04 and were relegated...

, Micallef now works as a technician for the Wales National Opera.

He lives in Penylan

Penylan

Penylan is a district in the east of Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, known for its Victorian era period houses and spacious tree lined roads and avenues....

with his wife Maria and two children, Antonia and Tiago.