Born in Braga, Zé Manuel finished his youth career with local club S.C. Braga. He spent the better part of his first three seasons as a senior in the third division with Merelinense FC, but also managed to appear once in the Primeira Liga with Braga, coming on as an 88th-minute substitute in a 1−1 away draw against FC Porto on 24 May 2009.[2]
In the 2013 off-season, Zé Manuel signed with Boavista F.C. who competed in the third division, being immediately promoted to the top flight as a result of the consequences of the Apito Dourado affair. He made his debut with the club in the latter competition on 17 August 2014, featuring 60 minutes in a 3–0 loss at his former team Braga.[4] He produced exactly the same numbers in his second and third seasons, scoring six goals in 31 matches.[5]
Zé Manuel agreed to a two-year deal at newly-promoted C.D. Santa Clara in July 2018.[11] At one point during his spell in the Azores, he was their all-time scorer in the Portuguese top tier.[12]
In October 2020, Zé Manuel signed for CS Gaz Metan Mediaș of the Romanian Liga I.[13] The following 2 July, he returned to his country on a two-year contract with second-division Rio Ave FC.[14]
References
^ abc"Zé Manuel" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 8 August 2021.