Born in
São Vicente, Cape Verde, Alhinho moved to
Portugal shortly after. He made his professional debut with
Académica de Coimbra in the
1968–69 season after having joined its youth system at the age of 16 from
Académica do Mindelo, appearing in 14 matches as the team finished in sixth position in the
Primeira Liga. After three further seasons in
Coimbra, Alhinho signed for
Sporting CP, winning his first national championship in
1973–74 and never missing a game in two of his three seasons. In 1975 he moved to
La Liga side
Real Betis but, unsettled, returned to his country of adoption a mere months after, joining
FC Porto. In the next five years, Alhinho would be mainly linked contractually to
S.L. Benfica, winning another league in
1976–77. During his tenure, however, he also played in Belgium with
R.W.D. Molenbeek– rejoining his former club after one season – and in the
North American Soccer League for the
New England Tea Men, loaned. Aged 33, Alhinho left Benfica, played three more years in the Portuguese top flight, with
Portimonense S.C. and
S.C. Farense (without ever suffering relegation) and retired from football. He immediately started coaching, with modest
Lusitano GC; in the following 22 years he managed teams in Portugal (two in the top division),
Morocco,
Angola,
Qatar,
Bahrain and
Saudi Arabia. ==International career==