Born in
Prados, Minas Gerais, Donizete Pantera started his career at
Volta Redonda at age 19. After a few months with the
third tier team, he moved to
São José in 1988, where he help them finish runner-up in the
Campeonato Paulista in 1989, losing out to
São Paulo. His performances led him to sign with
Botafogo. With competition from
Paulinho Criciúma and
Milton Cruz, he only made 15 appearances in the
Brasileirão, scoring once, on 14 October 1989 against
Vitória. In 1990, Donizete Pantera moved to
Tecos UAG, spending five seasons there, being an important part in the conquest of the first and only
league title for the Mexican side. On 30 April 1994, in the second leg of the championship final against
Santos Laguna, with Tecos needing a goal to win the title; Donizete made an individual effort past Santos defence, scoring the second and decisive title. For his influence, he won that season award for best player in the league, the
Balon de Oro. For the following two seasons, Donizete Pantera moved abroad, playing first at
Verdy Kawasaki in the
J1 League in
1996 and then moving to Portugal, playing for
Benfica. He debuted on 18 August 1996, in the first leg of
1996 Supertaça against Porto, scoring his first goal on 7 September, a double against
Gil Vicente. He partnered with
João Pinto in the six month he spent at
Estádio da Luz, scoring 9 goals in 22 appearances, leaving in late January 1997 for
Corinthians. In Corinthians, he reunited with Túlio Maravilha, winning his first Campeonato Paulista, now beating São Paulo. In the late part of 1997, Donizete Pantera moved to
Vasco da Gama, being loaned out to
Cruzeiro to play a single game, the
1997 Intercontinental Cup, lost to
Borussia Dortmund by 2–0. At Vasco da Gama, he played with
Luizão, in the conquest of the
1998 Copa Libertadores. Eliminating Cruzeiro,
Grêmio and
River Plate in the knock-out stages, Donizete Pantera started and scored in both legs of the
1998 Copa Libertadores Finals, as Vasco defeated
Barcelona by 4–1 on aggregate. He stayed at Vasco da Gama until 2000, losing the
1998 Intercontinental Cup for
Real Madrid, and with the arrival of
Romário and
Edmundo, also losing his place in the line-up. In 2000, the 32-year-old, moved to
Tigres for a brief spell in Mexico, returning to Botafogo immediately after. In the final years of his career, he passed through
Palmeiras, returned to Tecos twice and to Vasco da Gama once, finally retiring in 2006. In post-football, he works at a foundation created to promote young talents,
Fundação Pantera Negra, plus spent time studying to become a football manager. ==International career==