During his career, Padalino represented Foggia, Bologna (two stints), Lecce, Fiorentina (where he formed an interesting defensive partnership with Lorenzo Amoruso, later of Rangers), Inter Milan (having only appeared once, in an Italian Cup contest against Udinese where he got injured on his right knee, after a contrast with Roberto Muzzi and missed out the rest of the season) and Como Calcio 1907, where he ended his career in 2004.
Having retired in 2004, Padalino started as assistant coach to cousin[citation needed] Gian Piero Ventura at Hellas Verona, leaving at the end of the season to rejoin the first team at Foggia, as its administrative secretary.
On 5 October 2015, he was appointed as the new coach of Matera, ending the season in sixth place in the Lega Pro.
[2] On 13 August 2020, he was hired by Juve Stabia, freshly relegated into Serie C.[3] He left the club at the end of the 2020–21 season.
[7] In July 2024, Padalino was hired by Serie C club Latina; he was sacked on 20 October 2024 following a string of negative results.