Born in Adria, Rovigo,[1] Gotti played as a midfielder for amateur clubs such as Contarina, San Donà and Caerano in the lower divisions of Italy.

He achieved promotions twice during his career, with Contarina to Eccellenza after winning the 1989–90 edition of the Promozione and with San Donà to Serie C in the 1993–94 Campionato Nazionale Dilettanti season.

Gotti later served two more amateur clubs, Pievigina and Bassano Virtus in Serie D, before joining Reggina as a youth coach in 2004 and remaining there until 2006.

Gotti then served as head coach of Serie B side Treviso from 21 July 2008 to 24 February 2009, and again from 19 March to 25 June 2009, he oversaw the club's relegation by the end of the season.

[2] In December 2010, Gotti was named Roberto Donadoni's assistant at Serie A team Cagliari, then following the manager also during his stints at Parma and Bologna.