Born in Curitiba, Amarildo appeared in his country's Série A for four different teams: Operário Futebol Clube, Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas, Sport Club Internacional and São Paulo FC, the first three early into his career.
[1] Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas and Sport Club Internacional.
In the 1988–89 season Amarildo moved abroad, playing in Spain for Celta de Vigo and scoring 16 goals – fourth-best in La Liga, which included a brace in a 2–0 home win against Real Madrid – as the Galicians finished in tenth position.
After another spell in Spain's top flight with CD Logroñés (only one goal), Amarildo mainly represented F.C.
His best campaign with the club came in 1993–94 when he netted six times in 19 games in an eventual Primeira Liga relegation; he also represented the team in the second and third levels, interspersed with stints back in his homeland with São Paulo,[2] União São João Esporte Clube and Esporte Clube Bahia, playing one match in the domestic cup with the latter in 1996.