He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 400 matches and 51 goals over 16 seasons (best-ever for a foreign player), representing in the competition Marítimo, Porto, Vitória de Guimarães and Braga.
After starting professionally with Ipatinga Esporte Clube he moved overseas, joining Portuguese Primeira Liga club C.S.
[5] 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.
[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.