He left Sorrento in December 2007 by mutual consent[1] and then joined amateur Promozione side Massa Lubrense for the remainder of the season.
In his playing career, Ruotolo received three call-ups for the Italy national team, all in 1991, with a single appearance, a 2–0 home win against Denmark on 12 June.
[3][4] On 23 May 2009 Ruotolo was appointed on an interim basis to replace Leonardo Acori at the helm of Livorno for the final Serie B league game and the following promotion play-offs in an attempt to bring his side back to the top flight.
[9] On 5 April 2010 he was reappointed back at the helm of Livorno, taking over from dismissed head coach Serse Cosmi, in a desperate attempt to save the team from relegation.
[13] By doing so he returned to the club where he had both begun and ended his playing career and thus reignited his close association with Sorrento and Campania, the region of his birth.