Born in Inhambane, Portuguese Mozambique, Faquirá only played organised football in Portugal, with S.U. Sintrense, signing in 1983 still as a junior. His biggest achievement as a professional happened in the 1989–90 season as the team competed in the second division, eventually suffering relegation. Having always represented the same club, Faquirá retired from football in June 1992, still not aged 27.
Coaching career
Faquirá started his manager career with his last team, at only 28. In 1999 he signed for another club in the Lisbon area, Odivelas F.C. in the regional leagues, achieving two consecutive promotions and being relieved of his duties five games into the 2002–03 campaign. Subsequently, Faquirá worked with another side in the third division, F.C. Barreirense. After a second place in his first year he led the Setúbal District team to the national championship, and promotion. His first coaching experience in the second level happened in 2005 with G.D. Estoril Praia, but he found a club submerged in a deep economic crisis, eventually leaving in December of that year and being one of three managers during that season as they finished in mid-table. Faquirá made his Primeira Liga debut in 2006–07 with fellow Lisbon side C.F. Estrela da Amadora, finishing in ninth position and being named Revelation Coach of the Year. In his second season, in spite of tremendous economic problems, he managed to maintain the squad in its entirety and lead them to another safe finish. Faquirá joined Vitória F.C. for 2008–09, signing a two-year contract. On 14 January 2009, after a 1–2 home loss against Académica de Coimbra in the group stage of the League Cup – the Setúbal-based team had also been defeated eight times in 14 matches in the league – he was sacked. On 1 June 2010, after one year out of football, Faquirá replaced Académica-bound Jorge Costa at the helm of S.C. Olhanense. He eventually led the Algarvians out of the relegation zone, but managed to rank as high as third after seven rounds, only behind eventual champions FC Porto. Faquirá left Olhanense due to poor results on 30 December 2011, despite ranking tenth in the league. His resignation came one week after a loss in the Portuguese Cup against division two club U.D. Oliveirense. On 6 May 2013, Angola's C.D. Primeiro de Agosto announced Faquirá as Romeu Filemón's replacement after the latter's dismissal. In April of the following year, he was fired due to poor results. After a break of over five years, Faquirá returned to managing in Portugal's second tier on 22 December 2019, taking over S.C. Covilhã until the end of the season. Having finished tenth as the campaign was curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, he continued in the job.
