Known simply as Sócrates (or even "Doutor Sócrates", since he was a qualified physician, or Magrão, his childhood nickname), he started playing for Botafogo team from the city of Ribeirão Preto, in the state of São Paulo.
Conocido simplemente como Sócrates (o incluso "Doctor Sócrates", pues era médico titulado, o Magrão, su apodo de niño), empezó jugando por el equipo de Botafogo de la ciudad de Ribeirão Preto, en el estado de São Paulo.