Cardoso became head coach of Hamburger SV II on 18 December 2008 after
Karsten Bäron and his assistant coach
Frank Pieper were dismissed. Cardoso became assistant coach of the first team on 14 March 2011. He returned to the reserve team on 1 July 2011 only to return to the first team as interim head coach on 19 September 2011 when
Michael Oenning was sacked. Cardoso, who didn't have the appropriate coaching licence, wasn't allowed to continue in his role as interim head coach and was relegated to assistant coach on 11 October 2011.
Frank Arnesen took over as interim head coach. He was in that position until he was once again interim head coach of the first team from 17 September 2013 until 24 September 2013 He returned to the position until the end of the 2013–14 season. On 31 March 2015, he returned to the reserve team of Hamburg. He became the third coach of the season. ==Coaching record==