Born in Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, Sávio started his footballing career at the Desportiva Capixaba youth team.

After clashing with the former he was transferred to Real Madrid in 1998, helping the La Liga powerhouse to three UEFA Champions League titles and the 2001 national championship; in the 2002–03 season he served a loan stint in France, at FC Girondins de Bordeaux.

In his first the Aragonese won the Copa del Rey, precisely against Real Madrid;[3] in the second, he scored a career-best ten league goals.

However, on 5 January of the following year, it was announced that he would be transferred to Real Sociedad also in Spain, for which he played his first league game on the 21st against Valencia CF;[5] in late June, after the Basques' relegation, he joined fellow league team Levante UD, and played there until January of the following year, leaving as many teammates due to unpaid wages.

[6][7] After a spell back in Brazil with his very first club, Desportiva Capixaba,[8] Sávio signed in August 2008 with Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta FC, appearing with them in the 2008–09 Champions League.