Born in Setúbal, de Deus spent several years associated to local Vitória Futebol Clube, joining its youth system at the age of 13 and making his senior debuts in 1995.
During his nine-year senior career, he never competed in higher than the second tier, and represented C.D. Beja, Seixal FC, Lusitano G.C. and F.C. Barreirense, before retiring with his first club Vitória at the end of the 2003-04 season, at only 27.