In 1999 he moved to Curitiba, and started working in a small football school in the city called Sociedade Morgenau.

On 6 September 2012, Santos returned to Coritiba, now being appointed first team manager after the dismissal of Marcelo Oliveira.

Santos was appointed as manager of Vasco da Gama on 10 December 2014, but decided not to take over to family issues and remained at Coritiba.

[17] Santos was dismissed by Juventude on 18 October 2021,[18] after five winless matches, and took over fellow top-tier side América Mineiro just hours later.

[24] On 4 August, he replaced Claudinei Oliveira at the helm of Vila Nova in the second division,[25] but was himself dismissed on 20 September.