João Manuel Soares Moniz was born on April 7, 1953 in Portugal. He started his soccer career with Sport Clube Lusitânia.

In 1970 he joined Lisboa-club Sporting Clube de Portugal. João played in two league games for Sporting during the 1972-1973 season. He also played in two Taça de Portugal games.

João played in one Liga Portuguesa match for Sporting Lisboa in the 1973-1974 season.

Before the start of the 1974-1975 season he joined Lisboa club Atlético Clube de Portugal. He played in 19 league games and scored 7 goals in his first season with Atlético CP.

Before the start of the 1976 National Soccer League season João joined the First Portuguese Club in Toronto. 1st Portuguese finished the season as winners of the 1976 NSL Playoff Championship.

The striker helped the Toronto Portuguese club to a fifth place in the final standings of the 1977 National Soccer League season.

First Portuguese finished in second place in the final standings of the 1978 National Soccer League regular season.

In the 1979 National Soccer League season First Portuguese went through the season unbeaten in NSL games, and easily won the NSL Championship.

First Portuguese finished the 1980 National Soccer League season in second position in the final standings. João was the second leading goalscorer in the NSL in the 1980 season.

In 1981 João joined Toronto Italia. He helped Italia finish in third place in the final standings of the 1981 National Soccer League season.

Toronto Italia won two titles in the 1982 National Soccer League season. They won the NSL regular season championship and the 1982 NSL Cup.

In the 1983 National Soccer League season Italia won the NSL Playoff Championship.

João had a swansong with First Portuguese in the 1987 National Soccer League season.