He started professionally at G.D. Estoril Praia in the second division, scoring a combined eight goals in his first two seasons, the latter finishing in promotion to the Primeira Liga.

In the top level, however, Lázaro was only a backup player during three years, his best input being 17 matches in the 1991–92 campaign – 11 starts – as the Lisbon team finished in tenth position.

Lázaro took up coaching immediately after retiring, spending four years as an assistant at Estrela always in the top tier.

[2] Early into the 2008–09 season he replaced countryman Lito Vidigal as head coach at Estrela Amadora,[3] leading the team into safety only to suffer relegation due to financial irregularities.

[5] He was dismissed on 21 April with the team in seventh place with two games remaining of the campaign, after a run of poor results made qualifying for the play-offs difficult.