Reading defender Ian Harte has said that securing the Championship title with the club this season is the greatest achievement of his career.
Defender overjoyed to reach the Premier League once again
Reading defender Ian Harte has said that securing the Championship title with the club this season is the greatest achievement of his career.
The 34-year-old signed a new one-year contract with the Royals on Wednesday and will provide much-needed experience as Brian McDermott attempts to keep his side in the Premier League.
Harte, who has 63 international caps for the Republic of Ireland, was quick to praise McDermott and hailed his time at the Madejski Stadium as amazing.
"I'm delighted Brian gave me the opportunity to come to Reading," Harte told the
Reading Chronicle.
"A lot of managers will have looked at my career and what I did with Leeds United, but that's in the past. Brian, though, spent £70,000 to bring me from Carlisle down to Reading."
"It's been the best two years of my career, for sure. To get into the Team of the Season for the third year on the trot was another bonus and it's just been an amazing time really, I can't thank the gaffer enough."
Happy at Reading
The former Leeds, Levante and Sunderland defender is now looking forward to a return to the Premier League after helping Reading secure top flight football for the first time since 2007.
Harte said of the previous season: "I've played in World Cups and Champions League semi-finals with Leeds, but when I look back in years and years to come I will be able to say I won the league with Reading, and I've got a winners' medal to show for it.
"Now I've got another year's contract and it is a weight off my mind and my family's. We love the area, the kids have settled in schools and I'm just delighted it's all over and done with."
