Signed: January 2006 from FBK Kaunas

Debut: 4 February 2006

Honours: U21 International

A strong, fast and athletic left-back or central defender who was born in Portugal but was brought up in Switzerland where his parents relocated when Jose was only two years of age.

He was a promising youth player with FC La Sallaz, FC Yverdon and FC Basel 1893, but Jose made his senior breakthrough with the Challenge League (Second Division) side, FC Winterthur, in July 2004. In January 2005, his stylish defending attracted the Italian Serie B club, AC Venezia, and he initially played for Venezia II in Serie C before gaining promotion to the senior team. However, Jose made only three appearances before returning to Switzerland in July 2005 to sign for FC Thun.

At the start of the 2005/06 season, the Portuguese U21 international played eight times in the Champions League as FC Thun made a huge impression. He also made 16 domestic League appearances for the Swiss club. Jose caught the eye in the Champions League and he had a trial with Everton before a £700,000 fee took him to FBK Kaunas for three-and-a-half-years.

He was immediately loaned to Heart of Midlothian and, despite a string of injuries during his time at Tynecastle, retained his place in the Portuguese U21 team and played in the 2007 European Championship finals.