Born in Rio de Janeiro, he was a talented midfielder, who played for Flamengo between 1975 and 1987, during the most glorious years in the history of the Gávea club. During those years, he won virtually every competition he disputed: the Rio State Championship in 1978, 1979 (twice), 1981 and 1986; the Série A in 1980, 1982, 1983 and 1987; the 1981 Libertadores Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup, when he scored one of the goals of Flamengo's 3–0 victory against England's Liverpool. Adílio played 181 Série A games for Flamengo, scoring 26 goals, and played 11 Série A games for Coritiba, without scoring a goal.