Born in Vargem Alegre, Minas Gerais, Franco worked in Atlético Mineiro and Cruzeiro's youth categories before being named the latter's interim manager on three occasions, one in 2002 and two in 2004.

[1][2] Ahead of the 2005 campaign, he was appointed manager of Ipatinga as the club agreed to a partnership deal with Cruzeiro, and lifted the year's Campeonato Mineiro.

On 22 May 2006, after again reaching the finals of the state league, Franco was named manager of Flamengo, replacing sacked Waldemar Lemos.

[3] He won that year's Copa do Brasil in July, defeating Vasco da Gama in the finals; Franco previously took Ipatinga to the semifinals of the very same competition, the club's best-ever position.

On 11 July 2008, he was hired by Botafogo,[6] but left the club on 10 August 2009; hours later, he was announced at Coritiba,[7] suffering relegation at the end of the campaign.