As a player, he was a midfielder[1] who notably played in the Bundesliga for VfB Stuttgart, Eintracht Frankfurt and VfL Bochum and in the Premier League for Manchester City.

He also played top flight football in Mexico, Turkey and Switzerland for Club América, FC Basel and Antalyaspor.

He also helped them to the 1989 UEFA Cup Final and got himself on the scoresheet in the first leg, although they ultimately lost to a Diego Maradona inspired Napoli.

In 1995, he was loaned out to Manchester City and helped the team end the season with some magnificent performances including a 3–2 victory over the league champions that year Blackburn Rovers.

[9] In 2006, Gaudino took part in a charity football match between England and Germany, based on the 1966 FIFA World Cup Final.

In a game consisting of celebrities and former players, he was rugby tackled by future British prime minister Boris Johnson.