Born in Portimão, Algarve, Pacheco started playing with local sides Torralta and Portimonense, making his debut in the Primeira Liga with the latter in the 1986–87 season.
[2][3] Pacheco contributed five goals in 26 matches in the 1988–89 campaign, as the Lisbon team won the national championship.
[7] From there onwards, however, he received little continuity due to injuries as well as a run-in with Sporting manager Carlos Queiroz, and totalled only 50 league appearances in five years,[8] also representing Belenenses, Reggiana of the Italian Serie A and Santa Clara; he retired in 2001 at the age of 34, after three seasons in the lower leagues.
[10] He amassed Portuguese top-division totals of 213 games and 32 goals over one decade, and later worked as a manager at Atlético Clube de Portugal (third tier)[11] and Portimonense (Segunda Liga).
[1] Pacheco distinguished himself for the quality of his wide dribbling, fast progression on the field and accurate left-footed crosses.