Born in Covilhã, Coelho moved from hometown club S.C. Covilhã to FC Porto in 2005 to complete his development although he had already appeared for the former's first team, and went on to serve three loans in the following three seasons, including two and a half years at Segunda Liga side Portimonense SC, where he played alongside namesake Nuno André Coelho.[2]
Coelho was again loaned by Porto in July 2009, moving to Villarreal CF in Spain.[3] The deal eventually broke, however, and he stayed in Portugal by signing a two-year contract with Académica de Coimbra.[4]
In the summer of 2013, Coelho was released by the Lisbon-based club and moved to F.C. Arouca, recently promoted to the top flight.[7] He went on to be their first-choice holding midfielder for several years, as well as team captain.[8]