After a career spanning over 20 years, defender Ian Harte took to Twitter on Thursday morning to announce that he is retiring from football.
The 37-year-old played for seven clubs during his career but is best known for his spell at Leeds United during the club’s Champions League era of the early 2000s. In total he made 258 appearances for the Whites, scoring 34 and assisting five.
The left-back is most remembered for being a set-piece specialist, his free-kicks earning him the majority of his 72 goals during his career.
In addition to Leeds United, Harte played for other Football League sides in Reading, Carlisle and Blackpool before helping AFC Bournemouth secure promotion to the Premier League for the first time last season.
As well as an impressive club career, he became a regular with the Republic of Ireland squad during his Leeds United days, making a total of 65 appearances for his country.
Writing from his Twitter account, Harte stated that ‘the time has come to hang the boots up. I have had over 20 years playing football and loved every minute of it!!! Now to the next chapter’.
Just one of the many free-kicks Harte found the net with can be viewed below:
