“He didn’t know I was Irish” 🇮🇪 Ian Harte says that Trapattoni didn't know that he was Irish
Ian Harte says that Giovanni Trapattoni didn't know that he was Irish.
In episode one of our new podcast House of Football our co-hosts Eric Lalor and Damien Delaney sat down with Ian Harte.
The former Leeds United defender played 64 times for the Republic of Ireland and scored 12 goals.
Harte was a key member of the team that reached the 2002 World Cup, and he scored in the play-off against Iran that secured Ireland's place at the tournament.
Harte, however, only played another 21 times for Ireland after the tournament in Japan and Korea.
The full-back's last competitive appearance for Ireland came against San Marino in 2007 under Steve Staunton.
Harte was never called up by Staunton's successor, Giovanni Trapattoni. According to the former Leeds full-back, the Ireland boss wasn't aware that he was Irish.
During the 2010/11 season, Harte was playing some of the best football of his career.
The Drogheda native scored 11 goals in 40 Championship matches for Reading and helped the Royals reach the play-off finals, where they lost to Swansea City.
Harte shared a dressing room with Ireland internationals Shane Long and Noel Hunt and asked Long to put in a good word with Trapattoni.
The legendary Italian coach, however, seemingly hadn't done his homework on the player, who was 33 at the time.
"I was playing for Reading at the time," Harte said on House of Football.
"Honestly, I was flying, scoring goals, playing amazing football at Reading.
"Shane Long was coming across (to Ireland) and I spoke to him, I said to Longy, 'Have a word with Trapattoni'.
"Trapattoni's reply was, 'I never knew he was Irish.' Deadly serious.
"Longy came back and said, I mentioned it to the manager and he said he didn't even realise Ian Harte was Irish.
Even after Long informed Trapattoni that Harte was Irish, the player was still never called up again.
"What a waste," said Harte, who spoke with great pride about playing for Ireland.
"I played 63 times and scored 12 goals. Sticking on the green shirt is the best feeling in the world. It was an unbelievable feeling."
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