Born in Lisbon, Águas started his career with amateurs Real Desportivo Benfica, and later went on to represent G.D. Sesimbra in the third division and Atlético Clube de Portugal in the second. He turned professional in the 1983–84 season, when he signed for Portimonense S.C. of the Primeira Liga. Moving to S.L. Benfica in 1985, Águas scored an average of 12 goals in his first spell, helping the capital club to the league on three occasions. He was present at the 1988 European Cup final, as they lost on penalties to PSV Eindhoven, 5–6. Águas joined FC Porto in summer 1988, winning the league in his second year and contributing to the conquest with 17 goals. However, he returned to Benfica after only two years, and proceeded to net a career-best 25 times in the first season upon his return as the team finished in top position; in the last round against S.C. Beira-Mar, the game after they had been crowned champions, he bagged two second-half goals in an eventual 3–0 home win, narrowly edging Porto's Domingos – who played first and scored four in a 5–0 victory over Vitória de Guimarães, finishing with 24 – in the Bola de Prata race. In the last edition of the European Cup, Águas suffered an horrific foot injury against FC Dynamo Kyiv, but still managed five league goals in only 14 matches. Already 34, he moved clubs but stayed in Lisbon, joining lowly C.F. Estrela da Amadora; his career ended after an abroad spell which was his first and only at the age of 34, at Italy's A.C. Reggiana 1919.
In the early 2000s, Águas coached Vitória F.C. and acted as assistant at C.S. Marítimo and S.C. Braga. He managed six wins, three draws and nine losses for the first side in the 1999–2000 campaign, which ended in top-division relegation. Águas was named Cape Verde coach in August 2014, replacing interim Men Ramires and signing a two-year contract. He led them to three draws in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, in an eventual group phase elimination; he resigned from his position on 1 January 2016, alleging unpaid wages. In February 2017, Águas was part of a candidate shortlist for the vacant Rwanda national teammanager role. He returned to the Cape Verde helm in May of the following year. Águas returned to club duties in late December 2019, being included in his compatriot Jesualdo Ferreira's staff at Santos FC of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
Personal life
Águas' father, José, was a stellar footballer for Benfica, mainly in the 1950s. He had two siblings, his sister Maria Helena having a prolific career in the country's pop music. Águas' cousin, Raul Águas, was also a footballer and manager for several years. The former met his wife, Leonor, in college as they were from the same class. They fathered three children, son André, daughter Mariana and son Martim who was also a footballer.
