Jorge Cadete

Infobox Football biography
playername = Jorge Cadete


fullname = Jorge Paulo Cadete Santos Reis
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1968|8|27
cityofbirth = Pemba
countryofbirth = Mozambique
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
height = height|m=1.80
nickname =
position = Striker
youthyears = 1983–1984
1984–1987
youthclubs = Associação Academica de Santarém
Sporting Clube de Portugal
years = 1987–1996
1988–1989
1994–1995
1996–1997
1997–1998
1998–2000
2000
2000–2002
2004
2004–2005
2005–2007
clubs = Sporting Clube de Portugal
→ Vitória Setúbal (loan)
→ Brescia Calcio (loan)
Celtic
Celta Vigo
Benfica
→ Bradford City (loan)
Estrela da Amadora
Partick Thistle
Clube Desportivo Pinhalnovense
São Marcos
caps(goals) = 169 (68)
029 (10)
013 0(1)
047 (38)
036 0(8)
019 0(5)
007 0(0)
029 0(3)
008 0(1)
005 0(2)
nationalyears = 1990–1998
nationalteam = Portugal
nationalcaps(goals) = 033 0(5)

Jorge Paulo Cadete Santos Reis (born 27 August 1968) is a former Portuguese footballer. He was born to Portuguese settlers in Pemba, Mozambique, informally also known as Portuguese East Africa.

Early career

Cadete began his footballing career with Associação Academica de Santarém in season 1983-84 aged 15, scoring an amazing 43 goals in just 18 games. His exploits alerted Portuguese giants Sporting and Benfica. Sporting won the race to sign the promising youngster, with Cadete citing the quality of the club's youth department and the presence of Manuel Petronilho and Manuel Ferrão as influential factors. By season 1984-85 he was with the youth side of Sporting, moving up to the Junior squad for seasons 1985-86 and 1986-87.

Making his name

He broke into the senior team at Sporting Lisbon in 1987-88 making 6 starts. He was sent on loan to Vitória Setúbal during the next season were he scored 10 times. His skill quickly brought him back to Sporting in season 1989-90, where he played until 1995-96 and become one of the most emblematic players. However, while with the team, his only piece of silverware occurred during 1995, when he won the Portuguese Cup 2-0 against Marítimo. He was the top scorer of the National Championship in 1992-93, with 18 goals. He scored 70 goals for Sporting Clube de Portugal in over 180 appearances.

New beginning

Jorge became unsettled with life at Sporting Lisbon, and after making only two appearances that season he joined Brescia Calcio on loan in November 1994. He remained with the Italian Serie A side for one year returning to Sporting Lisbon in November 1995 after scoring a single goal in 13 appearances. He played twice for Sporting Clube de Portugal during the 1995-96 season but it was clear his future did not lie there.

Life in Scotland

A promising start

In April 1996, after a lengthy transfer wrangle, Cadete's contract was rescinded and he signed for Celtic on a free transfer in the middle of the 1995/96 season, where he gained star status. His debut came against Aberdeen at Celtic Park, where Cadete came off the bench to score Celtic's fifth goal in a 5-0 victory. Cadete became an instant hit with Celtic.

Controversy

Cadete's transfer to Celtic turned out to be controversial. Despite being signed prior to the transfer deadline, the S.F.A. delayed processing his registration in time for a Scottish Cup tie against Rangers at Ibrox. Following a complaint from Celtic chairman Fergus McCann, SFA chief Jim Farry was relieved of his duties after being found guilty of deliberately holding back Jorge Cadete's registration [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/288283.stm]

Making a mark

The following season, 1996-97, was Cadete's only full season in Scotland and the greatest of his career. The player finished the year as Scotland's top goal scorer with 33 goals in 44 appearances in all competitions and to Jorge's immense pride without the aid of penalty kicks. Despite this, his side lost out on the league title to arch rivals Rangers. Cadete played his last match for Celtic against Dundee United at the end the season where he bowed to the Celtic fans before kissing the turf, sparking rumours of an iminent departure.

Unhappiness

Celtic manager Tommy Burns made way for new coach Wim Jansen and Cadete remained a Celtic player throughout the close season. Then, citing mental health issues and a failure to adjust to life in Scotland without his family, he requested a transfer. After failing to show for pre-season training he was transferred to La Liga outfit Celta Vigo for a fee of around £3,500,000. Along with Pierre van Hooijdonk and Paolo Di Canio, Cadete was labelled as one of the "Three Amigos" by Celtic chairman Fergus McCann.

To Spain and beyond

He played for Celta Vigo in 1997-98, and returned to Benfica in 1998-99 along with former Celtic F.C. strike partner Pierre Van Hooijdonk. After one season back in Portugal, Jorge joined newly promoted English Premier League side Bradford City on loan during the 1999-00 season. He made his debut for the club coming on as a substitute in a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa at Valley Parade. He went on make a further four substitute appearances as well as two starts for the club. After failing to score in seven appearances for Bradford, he failed to win a permanent move and returned to Benfica at the end of the season. He was given a free transfer from Benfica and signed for Estrela da Amadora for the beginning of the 2000-01 season. As newly promoted Scottish Premier League side St. Mirren looked for a striker to bolster their chance of top flight survival, Cadete almost made a return to the country where he enjoyed his best form. However the proposed January switch fell through and he remained with Estrela da Amadora until the end of the 2001-02 season.

Exile from football

Following his release from Estrela da Amadora, Cadete found himself without a club. After failing to find a club for the new season he retired from football at the relatively young age of 33. He went on to make an appearance on the celebrity version of the Big Brother reality TV show.

Return to football, return to Scotland

Back in Glasgow

At the start of the 2003/04 season, Cadete decided to end his footballing exile and at the age of 35 begin his search for a new club. He returned to Scotland to make a guest appearance on Tam Cowan's Scottish football show "Offside". He spoke of his love for Celtic Football Club and how he regretted leaving. He also invited Celtic boss Martin O'Neill to give him a trial for his former club. His return to the public eye in Scotland prompted rookie co-managers Derek Whyte and Gerry Britton to take a gamble on the striker. He signed a short term contract for SPL relegation battlers Partick Thistle in late January 2004, ending his 18-month exile from the game. The move was controversial however, as Cadete had already agreed to sign for Raith Rovers, even being photographed in the team shirt by the media. He made his debut for the Jags on February 22 against former club Celtic, and was jeered by Celtic fans as he came off the bench due to the manner of his Celtic departure six years prior.

Back to old ways

Following his debut, Cadete returned to old ways when he reported back for training 24 hours late and was subsequently disciplined by the club. He was a shadow of his former self and scored only once for Thistle in the eight first team appearances he made for the club and subsequently was not offered a contract extension. He attempted to find a new club with hopes of playing in the Scottish First Division, the English Football League, Japan or Qatar but when these hopes came to nothing he finished the 2003-04 season without a club.

Return home

For the beginning of season 2004-05 Cadete signed for Portuguese Serie D side Clube Desportivo Pinhalnovense, where he stayed until his retirement at the end of the season. He cited the major factor in signing for the club was to work with coach Paco Fortes. During his time at the club he made five appearances and scored 2 goals. He retired at the end of the 2004-05 season.

International career

He attained 33 caps for the Portuguese national team, scoring 5 goals, 22 while at Sporting, 9 while at Celtic and 2 while at Celta Vigo. His first game for the national team, on 29 August 1990 was a 0-0 draw in a friendly against Germany. He was chosen for the Euro 96 finals by António Oliveira, after playing the last game in the qualifying rounds as a substitute. Many blame his absence from the first team for the 0-1 defeat at the quarter-final stage to the Czech Republic. His last game was a 0-3 defeat to England, on 22 April 1998, in a friendly match.

External links

*soccerbase|9212|Jorge Cadete