He played youth football with Vejle, but did not like the atmosphere in the team, and decided to end his dream of a professional career at the age of 16.

At the age of 20, Gaarde was poised to start an academic education, when an offer from lower-league Denmark Series club Vejen prompted him to reignite his footballing career instead.

He was signed to replace retired defender Ib Simonsen, though Gaarde made it clear that his favoured position was in midfield.

[2] Despite the negatives, Gaarde quickly established himself in the team, as he played 31 of 33 league games and scored six goals in his first season with Aalborg BK.

[3] He played 31 of 33 games and scored eight goals in the 1998–99 Superliga season, as Aalborg BK won the second championship in club history.

Gaarde played a combined total of 136 games and scored 25 goals in all competitions for Viking FK.

[2] He played 11 of the last 16 games of the 2008–09 Superliga, scoring one goal, but Gaarde could not keep Vejle from being relegated at the end of the season.

He stayed with the club in the secondary Danish 1st Division, but suffered a knee injury and ended his career in February 2010.