Frederico was born in Castro Verde, Baixo Alentejo.
During his club career he played for CUF, Barreirense, Benfica (having to compete with the likes of Humberto Coelho – his idol – he featured solely as a backup), Boavista (his most steady period, with eight consecutive Primeira Liga seasons, nearly 300 official appearances and team captaincy), Vitória de Guimarães, Estrela da Amadora and Leixões.
Frederico won 18 caps for Portugal, being selected for the roster at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico.
[1][2] On 29 March 1989, he scored two of his five goals in a 6–0 friendly win against Angola at the Estádio José Alvalade[3] and, the following month, added another in the 3–1 victory over Switzerland in the 1990 World Cup qualifying stage.
[4] Frederico died on 17 February 2019 aged 61, of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.