Still as a junior, he made his professional – and Primeira Liga – debut with Académica de Coimbra, playing 12 first-team games in an eventual relegation and contributing with 18 and two goals in an immediate promotion back; he spent a portion of the summer of 1977 on loan with the Rochester Lancers of the North American Soccer League.

A classic winger with an above-average physical condition – he practiced track and field and handball in his first club, S.C. Vila Real[2]– he went on to form a formidable attacking trio in the club with Fernando Gomes and António Oliveira, being instrumental in the conquest of six major titles, including two national championships; he was voted the Portuguese Footballer of The Year in 1979,[3] and also appeared as a substitute in the final of the 1983–84 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, lost against Juventus FC in Basel.

[4] The name of Costa was connected to the Verão Quente ("Hot summer") of 1980, when a group of 15 players, including António Lima Pereira, Oliveira, Octávio Machado, Jaime Pacheco, António Sousa and Gomes, suspended their club activity sympathizing with manager José Maria Pedroto and director of football Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, who had entered in "collision course" with chairman Américo de Sá.

After retiring as a professional footballer Costa, who possessed a solid academic education (he completed a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Coimbra),[2] embarked on a coaching career.

In July 2008, he was reunited with Queiroz as he joined the scouting department of the Portugal national team, working alongside Oceano da Cruz and English Julian Ward.