Born in São João da Madeira, Aveiro District, Vermelhinho signed for FC Porto in 1982 after starting out at local A.D. Sanjoanense. In the 1983–84 European Cup Winners' Cup he scored arguably his most important career goal, as the former team won 1–0 away against Aberdeen in the second leg of the semi-finals (2–0 on aggregate): in a foggy night, he netted through an amazing long-range lob, and went on to also play the entire decisive match, lost 1–2 to Juventus FC.