His 2005 was more successful: he began with a fourth-place finish in the 3000 m at the 2005 European Athletics Indoor Championships. He doubled up at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics, reaching the steeplechase final and finishing eleventh, although he failed to finish in the heats of the 5000 m. He closed the year by running at the 2005 European Cross Country Championships, just missing out on medals, seconds behind the bronze medallist in fifth. In 2006, he was tenth at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships in the 3000 m. He won the 5000 m in the Group A competition at the 2006 European Cup and managed seventh in the steeplechase at the 2006 European Athletics Championships.