After a couple of seasons with S.C. Beira-Mar (his first in the Primeira Liga) he signed for Varzim SC, then Vitória de Guimarães after three more years in the top flight.
With the Minho side, Jesus acted as backup in his first seasons, but was the undisputed starter in his last three, helping Vitória to finish third – 30 matches played and only 22 goals conceded, a competition-best – and reach the quarter-finals in the UEFA Cup in 1986–87,[2][3] also appearing in the following year's Taça de Portugal final, lost 1–0 to his former club Porto.
[5][6][2] The 35-year-old Jesus returned to Vitória in the summer of 1990, taking part in all 38 league games in his debut campaign but subsequently being second-choice.
He retired in 1994 at the age of 39 after one year with former side Chaves in the Segunda Liga, having made 363 appearances in Portugal's top tier over 16 seasons.
[2][5] After practically all of the Portugal national team defected following the infamous Saltillo Affair at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, Jesus was chosen by managers Juca and Ruy Seabra as his starter for the UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying campaign.