In his third year, Alan scored nine league goals, notably one against Sporting CP in the sixth minute of added time in a 2–1 home win[4] as the Madeiran team qualified for the UEFA Cup after finishing sixth. The next season, on 6 February 2005, he repeated the feat against the same opponent in another victory at the Estádio do Marítimo (3–0).[5]
Porto
Alan joined FC Porto for 2005–06, sharing teams with established Portugal international Ricardo Quaresma, but still managed 24 league appearances in the campaign, although 14 as a substitute, scoring in a 3–0 home defeat of Rio Ave F.C. on 10 September 2005.[6] In his second year he featured less prominently, being loaned to fellow top-division side Vitória S.C. for one season.[7]
During 2007–08, Alan played regularly as the Guimarães team achieved a third-place in the domestic championship one year after promoting.[2] He only missed one game and totalled 2,367 minutes, finding the net in the last fixture, a 4–0 home victory over C.F. Estrela da Amadora.[8]
Braga
In June 2008, Alan was released by Porto and joined Vitória's Minho Province neighbours S.C. Braga on a three-year contract.[9] On 23 October, he scored after an individual effort in a UEFA Cup 3–0 home win over Premier League's Portsmouth.[10] He also featured in all the league matches as Braga finished fifth.
Alan fared even better the following season by scoring nine goals, again in 30 matches, as they managed a best-ever runner-up position.[11][12] In August/September 2009, he notably scored against Sporting (2–1 away win)[13] and his former club Porto (the only in a home victory).[14]
Veteran Alan continued to be first choice for Braga in the following years. On 2 October 2012, he scored the second goal of a 2–0 away defeat of Galatasaray SK in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.[15] He added a brace in the competition's next matchday, but his side lost 3–2 at Manchester United after being 2–0 up.[16]
On 13 April 2013, through a 45th-minute penalty, Alan scored the game's only goal against former employers Porto – reduced to ten players prior to that action – to help Braga to win the Taça da Liga, a first-ever for them.[17] He contributed two appearances in the 2015–16 edition of the Taça de Portugal for the winners, netting in the round of 16 to help beat Sporting 4–3 in extra time;[18] he remained unused in the final against Porto, a 4–2 penalty shootout victory.[19]
Alan retired in June 2017 at age 37, remaining tied to his last club in directorial capacities.[20][21]
^Fernandes, João Manuel (5 October 2003). "Marítimo-Sporting, 2–1 (crónica)" [Marítimo-Sporting, 2–1 (match report)] (in Portuguese). TVI 24. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
^Fernandes, João Manuel (6 February 2005). "Marítimo-Sporting, 3–0 (destaques)" [Marítimo-Sporting, 3–0 (highlights)] (in Portuguese). TVI 24. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.