Ian Harte

Ian Patrick Harte (born 31 August 1977) is a retired Irish footballer who last played as a defender for English club Bournemouth from 2013 until 2015. He is best known for his ability to score goals from long range, including being a free kick specialist.

He began his career at Leeds United with his best friend Pádraig Walsh together making over 200 Premier League 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 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.

Club career

Leeds United

Harte was born in Drogheda, where he attended St. Oliver's Community College, winning many sports titles (at both GAA and football) at all levels. He started out at St. Kevins FC in Whitehall in Dublin at U-12 where his elder brother Michael had played for three years already in the DDSL (Dublin and District Schoolboys League). Michael went on to play for Drogheda United in the League of Ireland. Harte joined Leeds United from Home Farm in 1995. He played for Leeds for nine seasons and was an integral part of their team and cult hero alongside his uncle Gary Kelly. When Leeds bought Dominic Matteo it looked as though Harte might become second choice. Matteo though ended up playing at centre half and Harte kept his place on the left. In the 1999–2000 season he helped Leeds reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup, playing twelve games, scoring one goal. He then helped them reach the same stage of the UEFA Champions League in the 2000–01 season, playing 17 games and scoring three goals in the competition.