He opened 2008 on grass, placing 13th in the European Club's Cross Country Championships then making his long race debut at the 2008 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, coming 100th overall. He ran a 5000 m career best of 13:47.78 minutes in Lugano and was eighth at that year European Club's Half Marathon. He improved hs international ranking at the 2009 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, finishing in 45th and leading the Portuguese men to 12th in the rankings (the second best European team after Spain). Running on home turf, he took the bronze medal over 10,000 metres at the European Cup race with a personal best time of 28:15.44 minutes. A sixth-place finish at the Saint Denis Half Marathon saw him set another personal best of 1:03:19 hours. He won the national trial race at the Torres Vedras International Cross Country in November. He led the national team at the 2009 European Cross Country Championships, having a career best finish of sixth place to help Portugal to fifth in the team rankings. He capped of his year with a runner-up finish at the Sao Silvestre do Porto 10K.