Best known for his tackling and positioning,[3] as well as his athleticism, stamina and workrate,[4] he played for clubs in Portugal, France, Russia, Spain and Italy.

Costinha played more than 50 times with Portugal, appearing with the national team in one World Cup and two European Championships and being part of the squad that reached the final in Euro 2004.

[11] Costinha joined FC Porto on a five-year deal in May 2001,[12] and made his Primeira Liga debut on 12 August aged nearly 27; he was sent off in a 1–0 loss away to Sporting.

[14] On 9 March 2004, he scored against and effectively knocked out Manchester United in the Champions League round of 16;[3] Porto went on to win the title, beating his former side Monaco 3–0 in the final.

[15] Again a starter throughout most of the 2004–05 campaign, Costinha was sold to FC Dynamo Moscow in May 2005 for €4 million alongside teammates Maniche and Giourkas Seitaridis, following Derlei who left in January.

[4] Costinha made his debut for Portugal on 14 October 1998, in a 3–0 home win over Slovakia for the UEFA Euro 2000 qualifiers; he entered as a 67th-minute substitute in place of Rui Costa.

[23] He immediately retired, being named shortly afterwards as Sporting's director of football, succeeding the sacked Ricardo Sá Pinto, his former international teammate.

[24] In June 2011, in the same capacity, Costinha joined Servette FC, with the Swiss team being managed by countryman João Alves.

Paços de Ferreira, who had made the qualifying rounds of the Champions League for the first time in their history; his midfield partner for Portugal and three teams, Maniche, was hired as assistant.