Nogueira retired at nearly 34, amassing Portuguese top flight totals of 209 games and eight goals over the course of seven seasons. He gained seven caps for Portugal – his debut coming in 1991 – scoring twice.
During his professional career, which he began already in his 20s, he represented Clube Oriental de Lisboa, SG Sacavenense, Académico de Viseu Football Club (his first top division experience, aged 25), Anno Domini Fafe, F.C. Penafiel, Boavista Football Club (his most solid period, inclusively playing in the Union of European Football Associations Cup) and Vitória de Setúbal.