He made his first appearance for Cardiff City, under then manager Eddie May, on 6 November 1993 in a 3–1 victory over Stockport County at the age of sixteen.

[1][2] A one-club man since graduating from the Ninian Park ranks, Young made 275 league appearances for the Bluebirds.

[3] He attempted a comeback as a Newport County player at the start of the 2004–05 season and was made captain, but further injury problems forced him to retire from football.

Young, along with Danny Gabbidon, took over as caretaker manager of Cardiff City after the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjær on 18 September 2014.

He also received a call-up to the full Wales in March 2002 but remained on the bench during a 0–0 draw with Czech Republic.