Jorge Cadete

To Spain and beyond After failing to show for pre-season training, Cadete was transferred to Celta of La Liga for a fee of around £3,500,000. He moved to Benfica alongside former Celtic teammate van Hooijdonk in January 1999, and a year later he returned to the United Kingdom, joining newly promoted Premier League side Bradford City on loan until the end of the campaign; he made his debut as a substitute in a 1–1 draw with Aston Villa at Valley Parade, and was described as having an "instant impact" in that game.

For 2000–01, Cadete was loaned to the Lisbon-based Estrela da Amadora. As newly promoted Scots St Mirren looked for a striker to bolster their chances of top-flight survival, he almost made a return to the country, but the proposed January switch fell through and he remained in Estrela, subsequently seeing out his Benfica contract after claiming unpaid wages.

Retirement, return to football and Scotland Following his release from Benfica, Cadete found himself unemployed. After failing to find a new team he announced his retirement, going on to make an appearance on the celebrity version of the Big Brother reality TV show.

At the start of 2003–04 season, aged 35, Cadete decided to return to football. He returned to Scotland to make a guest appearance on Tam Cowan's Scottish football show Offside, where he spoke of his love for Celtic and how he regretted leaving; he also invited manager Martin O'Neill to give him a trial at his former club.

Cadete's return to the public eye in Scotland prompted rookie co-managers Gerry Britton and Derek Whyte to take a gamble on the striker. He signed a short-term contract for top-tier relegation battlers Partick Thistle in late January 2004, ending his 18-month exile from the game; the move was controversial however, as he had already agreed to join Raith Rovers, even being photographed in the team shirt by the media.

Cadete made his debut for the Jags on 22 February against Celtic, and received a mixed reception, with jeers from some opposing fans as he came off the bench due to the manner of his departure six years earlier. Shortly after, he returned to old ways when he reported back for training 24 hours late, and was subsequently disciplined by the club; he did not manage to score for Thistle in four months, and was not offered an extension.

Later years Cadete returned to his country in the 2004–05 campaign, agreeing to a deal at third division's Pinhalnovense. He cited the major factor in signing for the club was working with coach Paco Fortes.

The following two years, Cadete played amateur football in the Beja region, with FC São Marcos in São Marcos da Ataboeira, Castro Verde, being rejoined by some former professionals in the country, including Benfica and Farense's Hassan Nader. After retiring, he faced severe economic problems.

International career Cadete won 33 caps for the Portugal national team scoring five goals, 22 while at Sporting, nine while at Celtic and two as a Celta player. His first game came on 29 August 1990, in a 1–1 friendly draw with Germany.

Cadete was chosen for the UEFA Euro 1996 finals by António Oliveira, after playing the decisive last match in the qualifying rounds against Republic of Ireland and netting the last in a 3–0 win as a substitute. His final appearance was a 3–0 defeat to England on 22 April 1998, in another exhibition game.

Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Honours Sporting CP Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 1995

Individual Bola de Prata: 1992–93 Scottish Premier League top scorer: 1996–97 Taça de Portugal top scorer: 1992–93