Jorge Cadete was signed by Tommy Burns in early 1996. It could and should have been much sooner if it wasn’t for the anti-Celtic meddling little tyrant that was Jim Farry, something he’d later regret.

Jorge Cadete Glasgow Celtic FC 05 September 1996. Photo Mary Evans Allstar – Graham Whitby

The Portuguese forward was signed from Sporting Lisbon for a nominal fee believed to be in the region of £600,000, it would prove to be money well spent.

Jorge arrived with a decent reputation, Celtic supporters will have remembered him scoring a brace against the club in a 1993 Uefa cup tie as Sporting eliminated us from the competition despite a 1-0 first leg win. Jorge was also the skipper that night, six months earlier he also scored a brace for Portugal as they thumped Scotland 5-0.

So expectations were understandably high and Jorge was expected to deliver, and he didn’t disappoint. Straight from the word go he done what he did best, put the ball in the netty.

Only minutes are entering the field as a substitute against Aberdeen on his debut on a rain soaked night in paradise, he scored a superb one on one chance, something that would become his trademark as he scored the final goal in a 5-0 thumping of Aberdeen. The noise that followed that goal was deafening, so much so that it temporarily silenced Radio fives live coverage by putting them off air.

Jorge Cadete Glasgow Celtic FC 17 October 1996 Photo Mary Evans Allstar – Paul Mcfegan

Jorge scored 6 goals in 5 games at the end of the season, Celtic finished the season empty handed and one could only wonder what difference Jorge would have made if it wasn’t for Farry’s meddling.

The next season Jorge kept up his good form and hit an impressive 33 goals in 43 games in all competitions. He thrilled the fans with his explosive finishing and famous celebration.

Unfortunately the club yet again failed to win any silverware, but the football we played was a joy to behold and Jorge benefited by playing alongside the likes of Andy Thom Pierre Van Hooijdonk and Paolo Di Canio.

Jorge Cadete Glasgow Celtic FC 24 August 1996 Photo Mary Evans Allstar – David Gadd

Jorge unfortunately left the club and joined Celta Vigo for £3.5 million that summer. It was disappointing to see him leave, but we got a new hero by the name of Henrik larsson! It would’ve been interesting to see the two of them as a strike partnership. If only.