pɚsˈɪstənt ˈɪndʒɚɹi pɹˈɑːbləmz ænd ðə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɛvən dˌaɪəɡnˈoʊsɪs ʌv mˌʌltɪpəl skləɹˈoʊsɪs lˈɛd tʊ ɐ tˈuː θˈaʊzənd wˈʌn ɹᵻtˈaɪɚmənt, stˈɪl wɪððə lˈɪsbən klˈʌb hiː kəntɹˈɪbjuːɾᵻd wɪð ɪlˈɛvən mˈætʃᵻz ænd wˈʌn ɡˈoʊl ɪnðə tˈiːmz pɹaɪmˈiəɹə lˈiːɡə kˈɑːŋkwɛst ðə pɹˈiːviəs jˈɪɹ.
Persistent injury problems and the 1997 diagnosis of multiple sclerosis led to a 2001 retirement, still with the Lisbon club (he contributed with 11 matches and one goal in the team's Primeira Liga conquest the previous year).