ˈæftɚ stˈɑːɹɾᵻd plˈeɪɪŋ pɹəfˈɛʃənəli fɔːɹ mˈɑːdɪst pˌoːɹtʃəɡˈiːz tˈiːmz hiː hæd ɐ stˈɪnt wɪð spˈoːɹɾɪŋ sˌiːpˈiː, bˌʌt nˈɛvɚ mˈuːvd pˈæst ðɛɹ ɹɪzˈɜːvz, hiː sˈaɪnd ɪn dʒˈænjuːˌɛɹi tˈuː θˈaʊzənd sˈɪks wɪð ɡˈɪl vˈaɪsənt ˈɛf.sˈiː. ʌvðə pɹaɪmˈiəɹə lˈiːɡə.
After started playing professionally for modest Portuguese teams (he had a stint with Sporting CP, but never moved past their reserves), he signed in January 2006 with Gil Vicente F.C. of the Primeira Liga.