He became an instant first choice, going on to amass more than 300 overall appearances for the Vila do Conde club.
In the 2003–04 season, as Rio Ave had just been promoted to the Primeira Liga, Evandro scored 15 goals in 26 games,[1] notably two in a 4–0 home rout of Sporting CP[2] and another in a 1–1 home draw against S.L.
Benfica,[3] helping the side finish in seventh place.
From 2008 to 2010, he appeared in a combined 33 league matches – only six in the latter top level campaign – and did not manage to find the net.
After a decade with same team, and a brief spell in his homeland with amateurs Clube Atlético Guaçuano, Evandro retired from football at the age of 36.