Mario Makes Return To Europe

By Mark Heys
August 12 2006

South American forward Mario Jardel has made the return to the European stage for the first time in nearly two years after signing a contract with Portuguese club Beira-Mar.

Jardel, twice a recipient of the Golden Boot during his previous spells in Portugal with FC Porto and Sporting Lisbon, returns to the European continent after a spell in his native Brazil with Goias.

The 32-year old spent an unhappy six month spell with Bolton in the 2003-04 season when making just seven Premiership appearances, all of which came from the substitutes bench.

Once considered to be the solution to the Wanderers goalscoring problems, a then overweight Jardel scored only three times for the club in the Carling Cup competition, with his most memorable goal being a header in a 3-2 win over Liverpool at Anfield in December 2003.