Ferreira was born in
Vimioso in the
Bragança District, and started his career at
F.C. Tirsense in the
Segunda Liga. In 1998 he moved to
Atlético Madrid B, but only lasted a few months in Spain, finishing the season at
Yokohama Flügels in the
J1 League. Ferreira would go on to represent
F.C. Paços de Ferreira – also in the Portuguese second division – spending the following three and a half seasons as a key player at
Primeira Liga club
Vitória de Setúbal. being part of the
José Mourinho-led squad that defeated
Celtic in
the final of the
2002–03 UEFA Cup,
coming on for
Capucho in the 98th minute. He also featured in several
UEFA Champions League games in the
following campaign but was not selected for the
decisive match, and added two consecutive league championships during his tenure with the northerners. After that, Ferreira was loaned to
Vitória de Guimarães for
2004–05. He made the same move the following year, now to
F.C. Penafiel, but was released in January 2006 and promptly signed for
S.L. Benfica, until June 2009; while in
Lisbon, he was unable to establish himself as a first-team player, and was placed on the transfer list. but his contract was terminated in December after he became unsettled, making no competitive appearances (he was an unused substitute in a 3–2 away win over
Nottingham Forest in the
second round of the
League Cup on 18 September). He finished the season with
C.F. Os Belenenses, where he was coached by his former Setúbal manager
Jorge Jesus. Ferreira signed with
Ethnikos Piraeus F.C. in August 2008. He spent 18 months at the
Greek second division club, being released and retiring at the age of 32; it was also in this country where he met his second wife, Athina. ==International career==