Born in
Lisbon, Pietra started his professional career with local
C.F. Os Belenenses, making nearly 150 official appearances with the first team in his five-year
Primeira Liga spell and scoring nine goals. In 1976 the 22-year-old signed for
S.L. Benfica, where he would remain until his retirement. With Benfica, Pietra won, always as an important defensive unit, the league in 1977, 1981, 1983 and 1984, adding five
Taça de Portugal trophies. In 11 seasons he appeared in 320 games in all competitions, netting on 25 occasions; In the mid-1990s, Pietra began working as a manager, successively with
Boavista FC, Belenenses, Benfica,
F.C. Alverca (under his former Benfica teammate
António Veloso, his fullback counterpart),
F.C. Barreirense and
G.D. Estoril Praia, the latter two as head coach. After nearly one decade out of the game he returned to Benfica in 2007, acting as match scout for two years then joining
Jorge Jesus' coaching staff two years later, remaining with the side for several seasons in the latter capacity. ==International career==