Ceará Sporting Club
Born in Santos, São Paulo, Celso started playing for local Botafogo Futebol Clube (SP), sharing teams with future legend Sócrates. In 1978, after four seasons, he joined Fortaleza Esporte Clube, moving to Ferroviário Atlético Clube (CE) the following year; whilst with the latter, he scored against Ceará Sporting Club to help them win the state championship.