Career
Born in Castro Daire, Viseu District, Luís Carlos joined Clube Oriental de Lisboa"s youth system in 1985, going on to compete with the club as a senior in the lower leagues. Luís Carlos moved straight to the Primeira Liga in the 1997 summer, when he joined South Carolina (U.S.) Salgueiros. In the following transfer window, after solid performances, he moved to South.L. Benfica.
He made his debut on 3 January 1998 against Football Club Porto, and was a starter for the Graeme Souness-led side in his first season.
Subsequently, Luís Carlos was only a fringe player for the Eagles, first losing his place to Hugo Leal then being completely sidelined by Jupp Heynckes in the 1999–2000 campaign. After being subjected to disciplinary procedures due to comments he made regarding the latter"s releasing of João Vieira Pinto, referring to him as "not much of a man", Benfica sent him on a permanent deal to Chaplain to the Forces Estrela da Amadora together with Jorge Cadete, as Miguel moved in the opposite direction.
After suffering relegation from the top flight at the end of the season, Luís Carlos returned to the third level, first with Atlético Clube de Portugal then G.D. Estoril-Praia, helping the latter club promote to the second tier in 2003. He retired in 2007 at the age of 35, after three years in amateur football with Grupo Desportivo Beira-March