Born in Olinda, Pernambuco, Givanildo Oliveira represented Santa Cruz as a youth and made his first team debut in 1969.
In 1980, after a short stint at Fluminense, he joined state rivals Sport, eventually retiring with the club in 1983 at nearly 35 years of age.
In 1987, while in charge of Paysandu, Givanildo Oliveira won the year's Campeonato Paraense,[3] and subsequently returned to his first club Santa Cruz in 1989.
[10] He eventually returned to Papão in April, being dismissed in August and taking over Remo,[11] but finished the campaign in charge of Santa Cruz.
[4] Givanildo Oliveira remained in charge of Santa Cruz until April 2006, when he resigned to take over Atlético Paranaense.
[22] On 1 August he returned to América Mineiro,[23] and subsequently took over Paysandu (two stints),[24] ABC[25] and Treze[26] before rejoining the club on 17 September 2014.