Jorge Cadete, born in Mozambique on 27 August 1968 (age 58), was a Portuguese forward whose career had its first proper shape at Sporting CP. He was used mainly as a substitute in his earlier Sporting years, with loan football helping his development before he pushed on more convincingly.
His best league season came at Sporting in 1991-1992, when he scored 25 goals in 34 appearances. That was the record of a striker with sharp instincts rather than just promise, and it made his later arrival in Glasgow feel like more than a punt.
Celtic signed Cadete from Sporting CP in March 1996 for around £400,000. His time at Celtic was short, but it had the sort of impact supporters tend to remember: direct, lively, and productive enough to turn him into a cult hero without needing much embroidery.
He left Celtic in August 1997, joining Celta Vigo for around £3.5m. After that came spells with Celta, Benfica, Estrela Amadora and Partick Thistle, before he became more settled again at Sporting CP.
Cadete’s career moved across Portugal, Spain and Scotland, with Celtic sitting as the sharpest and most affectionately remembered chapter for many in Glasgow. It was a brief spell, but a memorable one.
