Regarded as one of the best Brazilian centre backs of all time, he was praised throughout his career for his aerial ability and tackling.

Italian sports journalist Gianni Brera believed Mauro to be the best sweeper in the history of the game.

[1] Born in Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais, Mauro began his career playing for amateur clubs in his hometown in the 1940s.

[3] Ahead of the 1960 season, Mauro moved to Santos FC for a fee of five million cruzeiros.

In 1967, Mauro moved abroad for the first time in his career and joined Mexican side Toluca.