An icon in Central American football circles, Guimaraes was born in the north-eastern part of football-mad Brazil but made his name as a player a little farther north in Latin America. After arriving in Costa Rica at the age of 12, he developed into a midfielder of some panache and goal-scoring ability and lined up for the nation’s most popular side, Deportivo Saprissa in three separate championship seasons (1982, 1988 and 1989). His performances were such that he became a leading member of the first Costa Rican side ever to participate in a FIFA World Cup, helping the Ticos make a splash and reach the Round of Sixteen.

Guimaraes went on to become one of Costa Rica’s most successful coaches when he finally called time on his playing days, eventually leading his old club Saprissa to three further titles before being handed the reins of the full Costa Rican national team in 2002. He led the Ticos on a rampaging qualifying run to the 2002 FIFA World Cup – which included an historic win against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium - and then again to the 2006 finals in Germany. Following that tournament, Guima took over developing upstarts Panama, helping them to emerge within the region, before moving on to a new challenge in the mid-east, where he led club side Al Wasl FC of UAE to the prestigious GCC Clubs Championship.

Playing career
1979-1980 Durpanel San Blas
1980-1981: Municipal Puntarenas
1982 -1991: Deportivo Saprissa
1992 - 1993: Turrialba FC

Coaching career
1994-1996: A.D. Belén
1996-1997: CS Herediano
1997-1999: Deportivo Saprissa
1999: C.S.D. Comunicaciones
2000: Deportivo Saprissa
2000-2002: Costa Rica
2002-2003: Deportivo Irapuato
2004: Dorados de Sinaloa
2005-2006: Costa Rica
2006-2008: Panamá
2009: Al Wasl FC