During his career he played, among others, for Porto and Sporting, amassing Primeira Liga totals of 483 matches and 83 goals over 18 seasons. Subsequently, he worked as a manager for several clubs.
In summer 1984, Sousa and longtime Porto central midfield partner Jaime Pacheco signed with Sporting CP – as part of the deal that sent 17-year-old prodigy Paulo Futre in the opposite direction – with the pair returning after two seasons.[2] He then proceeded to win the European Cup, the Intercontinental Cup and the UEFA Super Cup with the northern side, continuing to appear regularly (he also scored in the second leg of the Super Cup final).[3]
Sousa retired in 1996 at 39, as player-coach of first club Sanjoanense. He then dedicated himself exclusively to coaching, working mainly with another former club as a player, Beira-Mar,[4] where he remained for seven and a half years, with four consecutive top-flight seasons. In 1999, he led the latter to its biggest achievement, the Portuguese Cup, after defeating S.C. Campomaiorense 1–0.[5]