Reading Football Club have completed the signing of vastly experienced defender Ian Harte from Carlisle United.
Harte, who celebrates his 33rd birthday today, has made more than 400 appearances during a glittering career that has taken in Premier League, La Liga, Champions League and World Cup football.
Harte's career began as a left back at Leeds United, when he left his Irish roots to sign for Howard Wilkinson's Elland Road outfit in 1995. Before long he became a regular and soon earned himself a taste of European football with a fifth placed Premier League finish in 1997/8.
Harte's second season in the UEFA Cup saw him play in a semi-final against Galatasaray and, finishing third in the top flight that same season, Leeds earned Champions League qualification. In that memorable campaign, Harte scored against 1860 Munich, before helping Leeds hold Barcelona and AC Milan in the opening group stage. Real Madrid and Lazio followed and Harte scored home and away against Anderlecht before bagging in the quarter-final win over Deportivo La Coruna weeks later. Leeds were eventually defeated by Valencia in the semi-finals.
Top five league finishes continued as did UEFA Cup football, and Harte was also making a big impression on the international scene - featuring in all four of the Republic of Ireland's World Cup 2002 fixtures against Cameroon, Germany, Saudi Arabia and Spain. He has racked up more than 60 international caps in total.
In 2004, Harte left English football to sign for top flight Spanish side Levante - scoring on debut at Real Sociedad. Following three years in Spain, he returned to England with Roy Keane's Sunderland but after brief spells at the Stadium of Light and then Blackpool, the left-footed set piece specialist joined Carlisle United in March 2009.
Harte ended last season as the Cumbrians' top scorer with an astonishing 18 goals from centre back and also appeared at Wembley - beating former club Leeds en route to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final.
Director Of Football Nick Hammond said, "We're delighted to have secured this deal, we've got ourselves a player of great quality and versatility. He's had enormous success in his career and still has a real hunger and desire for the game. I know he'll be good for the team and the dressing room as well."
Boss Brian McDermott added, "He's got great experience, a wonderful left foot and he's another important addition in what we are trying to do here. Carlisle fought very hard to keep him, he was a main player for them and we're very pleased he has signed."
Harte told our online TV station Reading FC Player, "I'm chuffed to be here, it's happened very quickly and I'm really looking to meeting the lads now that I've been given the opportunity to come to a fantastic club.
"I'm 33, still hungry and every time I cross that white line I give 100%. Hopefully I can put some good performances in. It's my birthday today and it's the best present I could have wished for, I'm really looking forward to getting started."
