On 14 November 2010, Breno returned to first team action, playing in the 3–0 home win against his former club 1. FC Nürnberg.
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg | 1. FC Nürnberg | Altdorf bei Nürnberg | Sellbytel Baskets Nürnberg | Neues Museum Nürnberg |
After moving to Germany with his parents in 1990 he started playing football for several teams in the Ansbach area before joining Nürnberg in 1997.
By the 1993–94 season Criens had fallen down the attacker pecking order, behind Martin Dahlin, Heiko Herrlich and Martin Max, and in October 1993, the 33-year-old signed for 1. FC Nürnberg, suffering team relegation and then playing his last year as a professional in the second division.
In 2007, he decided to try a first experience abroad and was sold to German club 1. FC Nürnberg, who purchased him as a replacement for Raphael Schäfer who had left for VfB Stuttgart over the summer.
He joined German Bundesliga club 1. FC Nürnberg in 2004 and played there for the next two seasons before returning to Switzerland to play for FC Luzern.
He had a short spell at Standard Liège in 1982, where he helped the side reach the final of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup only to be defeated by FC Barcelona, before signing for 1. FC Nürnberg.