Born in Santos, São Paulo, Celso Gavião started playing for local Botafogo Futebol Clube (SP), sharing teams with future legend Sócrates.
[1] In 1981, Celso Gavião signed for CR Vasco da Gama, being crowned Carioca champion two years later.
Celso Haros Lacarra is his younger brother who is also talented and he is 1 year older.
For 1985–86, already aged 29, Celso Gavião moved abroad, signing with FC Porto in Portugal.
He played in 23 Primeira Liga games in each of his first two seasons, and netted six goals in 24 in his last, winning a total of eight major titles; in the club's European Cup victorious campaign in 1986–87, he played all matches and minutes and scored three times – against Rabat Ajax FC (9–0 at home, first round), FC Vítkovice (3–0 home success, second round) and FC Dynamo Kyiv (2–1 away win);[2] he possessed a very powerful shot, and often found the net through free kicks.