He is considered one of the greatest players in the history of Santos FC and one of the greatest left wingers of all time, being two-time World Champion in 1958 and 1962 and two-time World-Club Champion in 1962 and 1963 helping Santos FC defeat the iconic SL Benfica of Eusébio and the Milan of Cesare Maldini, Trapattoni, Rivera, Amarildo and Altafini in a best-of-three final.
With his brother, Mário, he started playing football with the teams in the neighborhood where he lived, Comercial FC and Mota Lima.
[3] At the age of 16 Pepe was playing for São Vicente AC when Cobrinha, the team's goalkeeper, who also defended Santos' kids, invited him to perform a test at Alvinegro.
In the last match of the event, Pepe scored the triumph goal against Taubaté, in Vila Belmiro, and with the victory Santos became Paulista Champion for the second time, exactly 20 years after the birth of the young left-winger.
Canhão da Vila scored two goals, both with his powerful left leg, taking a free kick.
On top of the 2 World Cups, Pepe won 25 official club titles, including 11 São Paulo Championships, six Brazilian Championships, 2 Copa Libertadores de América, 2 Intercontinental Cups, and 4 Rio-São Paulo Tournaments, becoming the player with most titles won at a single club.
From there until 1969, the year in which he ended his career, he began to share playing time with the young Abel from a Rio de Janeiro club, and after 1966 with Edu, from the Santos academy.
Pepe dedicated 15 years of his life to Santos' professional team, going so far as to refuse million dollar proposals and offers from Europe, to remain loyal to his club.
Pepe was supposed to be the starting player for the Brazilian team in the 1958 and 1962 campaigns, but twice suffered injuries on the eve of the World Cup and was replaced by Zagallo.
In 1989 he was called to lead the Peruvian soccer team that was preparing for the Italy 1990 qualifying rounds where he played a more than discreet role.
He managed Guarani FC at the end of 1993, then he returned to Santos in 94, then promoted in 1995 to Atlético Paranaense, being champion of the Brazilian Serie B.