Dário Monteiro

Dário Alberto Jesus Monteiro (born 27 February 1977), known simply as Dário, is a Mozambican retired footballer who played as a striker.

He spent most of his professional career in Portugal, amassing Primeira Liga totals of 138 games and 35 goals over the course of seven seasons, mainly at the service of Académica. Towards the end of his career, he played two years in South Africa.

Dário appeared with the Mozambique national team in two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

Club career
Born in Maputo, Dário arrived in 1996 to Portugal from local Desportivo de Maputo, signing with Académica de Coimbra. After tentative starts he became one of the club's most important players, scoring goals in the Primeira Liga at an impressive rate – in his last five full seasons in his first spell, he only netted once in single digits and averaged 14 per campaign, always ranking high in the scoring charts.

Late into 2003, Dário earned himself a lucrative contract in the United Arab Emirates, joining Al-Jazira Club. Unsettled, he quickly returned to Portugal and Académica; in his only season in his second stint he only scored six times, but ranked first in his team, which barely avoided top flight relegation.

Dário also played with Vitória S.C. and C.F. Estrela da Amadora in Portugal, with very little impact, after which he left to Cyprus with Nea Salamis Famagusta FC. In the following year he moved countries again, successively representing in South Africa Supersport United F.C. and Mamelodi Sundowns FC.

In the summer of 2010, Dário was released by the Sundowns, stating he had offers from Angola and Greece. After any move failed to materialize he returned to his country and signed for reigning Moçambola champions Liga Muçulmana de Maputo, in late December.

International career
Dário played for Mozambique at the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations in Burkina Faso as the national team finished bottom of their group (losing every match in the process), and also appeared in the 2010 edition in Angola, helping the nation to the quarter-final stage. He totalled 40 caps and 16 goals, during 15 years.

International goals

 * Scores and results list Mozambique's goal tally first.

Coaching career
Dário is manager of Desportivo de Maputo and the Mozambique national under-20 football team.