Born in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Nunes was a youth player at hometown side Riograndense; initially a midfielder, he switched to central defender before ending his playing career due to a knee injury.

[1] He then began his career as a fitness coach in the early 2003,[2] and worked at hometown side Inter de Santa Maria, Clube Atlético Camponovense, São Luiz-RS (two spells), Santo Ângelo, Pelotas, Bacabal, Luverdense (two spells) and Novo Horizonte.

In June, he became the assistant of Tarcísio Pugliese in the Série C.[4] On 7 November 2010, Nunes was appointed Luverdense manager in the place of departing Lisca,[5] but was sacked after only three matches.

After working for Juventude,[11] Brasília[12] and Ferroviária's under-20 sides, Nunes was announced as São Paulo-RS manager on 3 May 2016.

[20] On 21 April 2021, Nunes returned to Grêmio, being appointed first team manager in the place of longtime incumbent Renato Gaúcho.