A midfielder, he was a youth player at Benfica, and retired from playing at age 30 to start his managerial career, which included 27 clubs over nearly 40 years.

From 2006 to 2012, Rachão worked in the Arab world, in the top divisions of football in Kuwait, Libya, Syria and Saudi Arabia.

[2] In September 1971, 19-year-old Rachão saw no future at Benfica due to their high number of talented players, and he requested a transfer.

[2] At the start of February 2005, Vitória de Setúbal manager José Couceiro moved to FC Porto, and 52-year-old Rachão was hired in his place until the end of the season, with one more year as an option.

[2] Rachão set his targets as helping the club avoid relegation, and to reach the final of the Taça de Portugal, where they were in the quarter-finals.

[8] After leaving Vitória, Rachão was manager of União da Madeira before moving abroad for the first time in his career, to Al-Arabi SC of the Kuwait Premier League in 2006.

[11] He left both Libya and Syria before both countries fell into civil war, which led to jokes from friends when he returned to Kuwait.