From Brazil to St. Mirren via Bolton: the Journeyman Career of Mário Jardel
Mário Jardel’s random assortment of employers make him one of the greatest journeymen footballers of all time. But was he any good?
The way we consume and analyse the beautiful game is constantly changing. The hard-nose statisticians can Moneyball the performance of an individual to the point where the perceptions we carry about these players is exclusively data-driven. Of course, there is merit in all the number crunching. For those exceptional talents, (Harland, Lewandowski, etc.) goal-to-game ratios serve as a realisation that they are, in fact, awfully prolific. Think about what the G.O.A.T debate would look like without statistics – not nearly as gripping I’m sure you’ll agree. Football culture has, however, always had a special sentiment for those players who, statistically, don’t rewrite record books, but instead amaze and excite us with those fleeting moments of beauty.
Mário Jardel was one such player. For a transient second, the Brazilian held his own in the late-90’s upper echelons of the likes of Del Piero, Kluivert and Henry. Digging into his career, I discovered a beautiful equilibrium of jaw dropping stats, and a latter career of cult-worthy status; a man who bridged the gap.
“In the statistical hustle and bustle of goal scoring ratios, big money transfers and domestic and continental titles, it becomes very easy to forget that Jardel never truly enjoyed the notoriety his accomplishments merited. There would be a strong case for arguing that he is the greatest striker never to play in a World Cup.”
Imagine, then, my shock at discovering that the Brazilian striker had turned out on trial for St Mirren in a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Stirling Albion. Feeling perplexed, I found it hard to decipher what the source of greater confusion was – the fact that the former five-time Primeira Liga top goalscorer had ended up on trial at St Mirren, or that it had proved ultimately unsuccessful. Amongst a backdrop of cocaine use and weight issues, Jardel would spend the years from 2004 to retirement in 2011 drifting from teams in Brazil to Bulgaria, with cameos in Australia and Cyprus in between. Blazing a true journeyman path, few can claim to have had such an exhilarating career.
Whilst experiencing a career zenith in the years between 1996 and 2003, Jardel netted an astonishing 205 goals in 198 games for Porto, Galatasaray and Sporting Lisbon. The Brazilian had burst onto the scene in his native Brazil, where a productive loan spell at Grêmio resulted in 10 goals in 13 games and the 1995 Copa Libertadores title. Scoring in big games became standard practice throughout Jardel’s career; he netted in that Libertadores final, as well as bagging a hat-trick in the quarters. Even after his stock fell in the years after leaving Sporting, Mário still had a remarkable ability to arrive in the big games. During an unproductive spell at Bolton, the big Brazilian would not register a single league goal, but still saw fit to score three in the League cup as the Trotters reached the final - one even coming against Liverpool at Anfield. In 1996 however, there were no signs of slowing up and some of Europe’s biggest clubs were frantically readying their chequebooks. British rules regarding non-EU players thwarted a move to Glasgow with Rangers, before Benfica were beaten to his signature by rivals Porto. Were it not for coefficients based on league standards, and a freak Kevin Philips season, Jardel would have claimed three European golden boots during his time in blue and white, instead being attributed just the two awards.
In the late noughties and early 2000s, a number of cult teams had amassed in Europe. Teams with eyebrow-raising rosters that appeared well beyond the means of the clubs they represented. It was unsurprising then, the aforementioned Rangers of Gascoigne, Laudrup and McCoist, as well as the Bolton of Okocha, Campo and Djorkaeff were all entwined with Mário Jardel. It was, however, another iconic side that would prise him away from the Portuguese coast, in the form of Turkish giants Galatasaray. Inspired by the wonderous wizardry of Gheorghe Hagi, the Istanbul side had lifted the UEFA cup in 2000 and set their ambitions on shaking up the hierarchy amongst Europe’s elite. Such ambition paved the way for a release clause of $28 million being met and Jardel donning the famous red and yellow. An incredible introduction to Istanbul saw Jardel score five goals on his league debut and bagging a brace (including the decisive golden goal) against Real Madrid, as Galatasaray won the UEFA Super cup - another trophy to the haul. Continental titles in multiple continents secured. The Turkish side reached the champions league quarter finals that season, with Super Mário bagging six goals along the way with notable opposition like Milan, PSG, Rangers and Real Madrid all succumbing to his prowess. Injuries and personal problems cut his stay in Turkey short, but not before he had cemented his position as one of the continent’s best with a 34 goal season.
The allure of the Primeira Liga in Portugal proved hard to resist on deadline day 2001. A solitary year after that 34 goal haul for Galatasaray, they allowed Sporting to relieve them of the striker’s services. It was a gamble that paid dividends; Jardel scored 42 goals in 30 matches, as the Lions claimed a league and cup double. In the statistical hustle and bustle of goal scoring ratios, big money transfers and domestic and continental titles, it becomes very easy to forget that Jardel never truly enjoyed the notoriety his accomplishments merited. There would be a strong case for arguing that he is the greatest striker never to play in a World Cup. Between the 1998 World cup where Brazil were runners up and the tournament in 2002 where the Seleçao went one better, Mário was at his brilliant best. The stature of Ronaldo Nazário during this time, however, was unparalleled. In an act of cruel fate, Jardel would replace Ronaldo from the bench to make the first of just 10 international appearances, against Russia in 1996.
In 2003, alongside playmaker Deco, Jardel received Portuguese citizenship. Whilst the diminutive midfielder would go on to forge an impressive international career with his adopted country, Jardel’s hope of adding to his international tally were scuppered by a rapid decline.
An Injury hit 2002-03 season meant he only scored nine goals and by the summer, found himself playing for Bolton Wanderers, looking increasingly lost in Lancashire. The immense trajectory in which his career path took flight was sadly mirrored by its rapid decline. With fluctuating weight problems proving to be a flaw in a forgettable loan stint in Italy, Bolton proceeded to release Jardel to Argentina, with the English side receiving no fee. Just four years prior, he had set Galatasaray back nearly $30 million. Contrary to a largely unspectacular winding down of his career, Jardel still somehow accumulated an additional 4 trophies. The last of which came with the Newcastle Jets in the Australian league where tragically – despite working hard to rediscover his fitness – he would miss much of the campaign having returned home to care for his sick mother.
Once retired, the big striker utilised his charisma in the world of politics, being elected to the Brazilian chamber of deputies in the 2014 election. Accusations of diverting funds, extortion of staff and association with drug dealers resulted in another contract termination – perhaps of a more conclusive nature compared to those attributed by some of his former clubs.
Reflecting on the career of Mário Jardel generates mixed emotions. Statistically, in this day and age, his legacy should receive mass acclamation and almost certainly would, were he able to extend his peak a few years longer. The sense of curiosity surrounding his decline in form only adds to the intrigue of a player who went from Brazil to Bolton and Porto to politics. Although his latter career proved sporadic, he is rightfully revered by those fans who got him in his prime. It’s hard to picture him walking away from St Mirren Park when the true nature of his ability is observed. The streets may have forgotten already but, for a brief moment in time, Jardel was up there, holding his own with the best of them.