Born in
Aves in
Santo Tirso, Vítor Manuel was a youth player at local
C.D. Aves, where he made his senior debut in 1988 in the
Segunda Divisão. In 1995, Vítor Manuel was loaned to
S.C. Campomaiorense. He played 25 games in his
first season and scored once in a 3–1 loss away to Belenenses on 8 February as his team ended the campaign with relegation. He helped them to the
Taça de Portugal final in
1999, and came on as a 62nd-minute
substitute for
Basílio Marques in the 1–0 loss to
S.C. Beira-Mar. Campomaiorense's cup run led to interest in Vítor Manuel from
UD Salamanca of Spain, but he instead joined
S.C. Farense in 1999, where he stayed for two seasons. In July 2001, the 30-year-old joined
Varzim S.C. due to his desire to return to his native
northern Portugal for the first time in eight years, and first time with a top-flight club. After a year there, he returned to Aves for the remainder of his career, playing his last year of
2006–07 in a season that ended with relegation from the top league. ==Personal life==