Born in the Azores Island of Pico, Neves’ family moved to San Diego, California at the age of 10.
He attended San Diego Mesa College in 1979, playing on the school's soccer team.
In December 1979, Neves signed with the California Surf of the North American Soccer League.
The Surf folded at the end of the season and Neves moved to the San Diego Sockers where he played on the club's reserve team, but broke his leg during a game in Mexico.
[1] In 1987, he signed with the San Diego Sockers of the Major Indoor Soccer League.