10 July 2006, by Tom Kundert

Jardel back in Portuguese football

Mario Jardel has returned to the Portuguese championship where he enjoyed the best days of his career, signing a one-year contract at newly promoted Beira-Mar.

The Brazilian striker, 32, signed for Porto in 1996/97 and immediately achieved huge success. He was the top scorer in the Portuguese top flight on four consecutive occasions, picking up three championship-winning medals in the process.

He then spent a spell at Galatasaray in Turkey before returning to Portugal at the start of the 2001/02 season when he signed for Sporting. A remarkable 42 goals helped the Lisbon club to a league and cup double.

Jardel’s brilliant career then took an equally spectacular nosedive. Marital problems along with rumours of a gambling addiction, drug abuse, depression and constant injuries all took their toll.

The striker left Sporting in 2003/04 and tried unsuccessfully to resurrect his career at a series of clubs all around the world including Bolton (England), Ancona (Italy), Old Boys (Argentina), Alaves (Spain), Palmeiras and Goias (both in Brazil).

The capture of Jardel will arouse great interest among Portuguese football fans in general and Beira-Mar supporters in particular.

If the Brazilian manages to put his problems definitively behind him, he could be a useful addition to the squad as the club aim to consolidate their top-flight status.