 After tentative starts he became one of the club's most important players, scoring goals in the Primeira Liga at an impressive rate – in his last five full seasons in his first spell, he only netted once in single digits and averaged 14 per campaign, always ranking high in the scoring charts.Late into 2003, Dário earned himself a lucrative contract in the United Arab Emirates, joining Al-Jazira Club.Unsettled, he quickly returned to Portugal and Académica; in his only season in his second stint he only scored six times, but ranked first in his team, which barely avoided top flight relegation.