After spending his childhood in São Paulo, Brazil, he later returned to Italy, and started his professional career with Torino, then obtaining his major successes with Perugia and AC Milan, and being nicknamed Monzon (after an Argentine boxer) due to both his physical resemblance to him and his determination on the pitch.

Novellino was a talented yet tenacious and hard-working midfielder known for excellent technical ability, offensive capabilities, fighting spirit, and dribbling skills.

On 8 December, only a few months after his dismissal, he was called back to Torino following the sacking of De Biasi, taking over the team in 18th place and 12 only points achieved in 15 games.

[4] He was fired once again on 24 March 2009, after a sequence of negative results that left Torino in deep relegation zone, being replaced by Giancarlo Camolese.

[6] On 14 February 2011, he was unveiled as new head coach of Serie B club Livorno, replacing Giuseppe Pillon at the helm of the Amaranto,[7] until 21 December 2011 when he rescinds the contract by mutual agreement with the company.

[16] Novellino favours a 4–4–2 formation which makes use of a zonal marking defensive system, a deep-lying playmaker in midfield, and a physical centre-forward fielded alongside a more mobile and talented second striker.