page_title: Ian Harte
section_title: Reading
hierarchical_section_title: Ian Harte / Club career / Reading
caption_attribution_description: 17/05/11 - Cardiff V Reading, Championship Semi-Final 2nd Leg, Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
context_page_description: Ian Patrick Harte is an Irish football agent and former professional footballer who played as a left back or midfielder. He was best known for his ability to score goals from long range, including being a free kick specialist.
  He began his career at Leeds United making 288 official appearances across nine seasons. Following their relegation and financial difficulties in 2004 he joined La Liga team Levante. He returned to England in 2007, featuring at a variety of clubs and winning the Championship title at Reading in 2012 and AFC Bournemouth three years later.
  Harte earned 63 international caps for the Republic of Ireland between 1996 and 2007, scoring 12 goals. He was included in their squad at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
context_section_description: On 31 August 2010, Harte signed for Championship club Reading on a two-year deal for £100,000. After his move to Reading, Carlisle manager Greg Abbott said his disappointment at losing Harte was tempered by the money received for team strengthening. Harte thanked manager Abbott, saying "The move really came from nowhere but I have to be honest and say that it is nice to see a club at that level showing an interest. They are a big club who were in the Premier League just a few years ago. They are in the Championship and the chance to go and play at that level again was one I didn't want to miss. The difficult part was that I have really enjoyed my time at Carlisle. Greg Abbott has really looked after me and he was willing to give me a chance to get myself back into the game at a point when I didn't have a club. I can't thank him enough for that."
  Harte scored on his debut from the penalty spot against Crystal Palace and then in his fourth appearance with a stunning free kick against Barnsley. He continued his fine scoring record (for a defender), which helped Reading maintain their challenge for the play-offs for the Premier League. On 9 April, Harte scored the opening goal in a 4–3 away win at promotion-chasing Nottingham Forest. In April, he was named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year, following his appearance in the corresponding list for League One a year earlier. Harte also scored a superb free kick against Middlesbrough in a 5–2 win for Reading, and perhaps his best of the season away to Ipswich Town in a 3–1 win on 8 March. Harte was named as the Championship player of the month in March 2011. Harte also scored from the penalty spot away to Scunthorpe United on 12 April as Shane Long was unavailable; the game finished 2–0 to Reading.
  Harte was part of a defence that shut out his old team Leeds United in 0–0 draws at both Elland Road and the Madejski. Harte was applauded throughout by the home fans (Leeds United). Harte played in a 3–2 defeat to Sheffield United at the Madejski Stadium on 25 April 2011. The game also involved a tribute for former Reading and Sheffield United player Chris Armstrong. Reading lost the game 3–2, the first defeat for Reading since 4 February 2011 to QPR.
  Harte was named in the PFA Team of the Year for the second year running, after scoring 10 goals and helping to keep 14 clean sheets, though mainly for his set piece ability, having scored 6 free kicks, sharing corner duties with Jobi McAnuff and Brian Howard as well as being second in line to take penalties after Shane Long, scoring three. Harte also showed his aerial ability, with great power and accuracy in all of his headers.
  In the 2011–12 season, Harte was one of the five key players who helped get Reading back to the Premier League along with Adam Federici, Jem Karacan, Kaspars Gorkšs and Jason Roberts. Once again, Harte was chosen for the PFA Team of the Year, becoming the only representative for Reading.
  On 23 May 2012, it was announced that Harte had signed a new one-year deal keeping him at the Madejski Stadium until 2013 after being offered a new deal. Before signing a new deal with Reading, Harte has revealed he rejected the chance of a return to former club Leeds when he got a phone call about 10 days ago saying Leeds were interested but he insists he is happy to stay at Reading. On 15 May 2013 Harte announced on Twitter that he would be leaving Reading at the end of the season with the club confirming his release nine days later.
caption: Harte playing for Reading in 2011
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