Born in São João da Madeira, Aveiro District, Sousa started professionally with local A.D. Sanjoanense at only 16, with his team in the Segunda Liga.

In 1975 he signed with S.C. Beira-Mar, scoring a career-best 15 goals in his third year as the Aveiro club returned to the Primeira Liga; three of his four seasons there were spent in the top division.

[3] In summer 1984, Sousa and longtime Porto central midfield partner Jaime Pacheco joined Sporting CP – as part of the deal that sent 17-year-old prodigy Paulo Futre in the opposite direction – with the pair returning after two seasons.

He then dedicated himself exclusively to management, working mainly with another side he played for, Beira-Mar,[7][8] where he remained for seven and a half years, with four consecutive top-flight seasons.

[9] Sousa played 27 times with the Portugal national team from 1981 to 1989,[10] being part of the squads at UEFA Euro 1984 – where he scored in the 1–1 group stage draw against Spain[11][12]– and the 1986 FIFA World Cup.