IAN HARTE IS hanging up his boots.
The former Republic of Ireland international announced his retirement in a tweet on Thursday morning.
“The time has come to hang the boots up,” Harte, 37, wrote.
“I have had over 20 years playing football and loved every minute of it!!!
“Now to the next chapter.”
Best remembered for his nine seasons at Leeds United, the Drogheda defender spent the final years of his career at Bournemouth whom he joined in 2013.
But he was released shortly after helping the Cherries secure promotion to the Premier League.
Harte made 63 international appearances over the course of an 11-year senior career, including an appearance at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan.
His final Irish cap under Steve Staunton in February 2007, and was famously critical of the team’s management under Giovanni Trapattoni.
Former international team-mate Kevin Kilbane was among those to tweet their best wishes to Harte:
