Reading have had their fair share of ups and downs over the years, with the club now playing their football in the Championship under the management of Veljko Paunovic. 

The Royals are in the hunt for a timely return to the Premier League this term as well, after a hugely impressive first-half of this year's campaign.

Despite some sluggish performances in the second-half of the 2020/21 season, the Madejski Stadium will fancy their chances of seeing their side challenging for promotion back into the top-flight.

They were last in the Premier League back in 2012, after winning promotion under the management of Brian McDermott, who guided them to the Championship title after a hugely impressive second-half of the season.

We take a look at the dream Reading FC XI from the last decade, but do you agree with these suggestions?

Find out which player is first up, on the next page....

Ali Al-Habsi is in between the posts for Reading, with the former Royals goalkeeper impressing with a number of strong performances for the club.

The Omani international played his part in the club's survival in the Championship in his first season, before keeping 17 clean sheets in his second season.

Those strong performances saw Reading reach the play-off final in that season, although they missed out on promotion into the Premier League after a defeat to Huddersfield Town in the play-off final.

Notable other mentions that pushed Al-Habsi close for his spot in the team were Adam Federici and Emiliano Martínez, with the latter being hugely impressive in his loan spell with the club in the 2018/19 season.

Chris Gunter is in at right-back, with the Welsh international making over 300 appearances for the club in his eight-year spell at the Madejski Stadium.

The defender arrived from Nottingham Forest, and went on to become a regular in the Reading team, both in the Championship and Premier League.

He left the club when his contract reached a conclusion at the end of the 2019/20 season, and has recently made his 100th appearance for the Welsh national side.

Gunter is now playing his football for League One side Charlton Athletic, and has made 33 appearances for them in all competitions this term.

Alex Pearce is the first central defender in the team, with the former Reading man making over 200 appearances for the club in total.

The defender played his part in the club's promotion-winning season, and established himself as a firm fans favourite over the years at the Madejski Stadium for his passion for the club.

He departed in 2015, and went on to sign for Derby County later that year. Pearce is now with Championship side Millwall though, and has made 22 appearances for the club this season.

Pearce is a player that will be fondly remembered by the Madejski Stadium faithful for his services to the club over the years.

Liam Moore is next up, with the defender featuring heavily for the Berkshire-based side over the last few years.

He signed for Reading back in 2016 after a lengthy spell with Leicester City, and has gone on to establish himself as a regular in the starting XI.

Reading have struggled in recent seasons, but Moore has been a rare bright spark for them, with a number of impressive displays in the heart of their defence.

That puts him ahead of the likes of Sean Morrison and Adrian Mariappa in the team here, as part of Reading's best team from the last decade.

Ian Harte takes his spot in the XI at left-back, with the former Reading defender playing a starring role in the club's promotion-winning season in the 2011/12 campaign.

Harte scored four goals and was on hand to provide nine assists in his time with the club, before going on to feature heavily for the Royals in the Premier League the following season.

The defender went on to sign for AFC Bournemouth on a one-year deal, which was later extended by a further year at the end of that season.

Harte played his part in the club's promotion-winning season, before being released by the Cherries as they adjusted to life in the Premier League. He then retired from his playing career in August 2015.

Jimmy Kebe is in at right-midfield, with the winger making 190 appearances for Reading, after signing for the club in 2008.

The winger became a firm fans favourite in his time at the Madejski Stadium, as he scored 31 goals and was on hand to provide 45 assists in his spell with the Berkshire-based side.

Kebe's most memorable moment is likely to be when he goaded West Ham's Jack Collison into a red card, as he pulled his socks up midway through an attack whilst on the ball, which provoked Collison to push Kebe to the floor.

Reading won the game 3-0, and Kebe's impact is still talked about to this day. He left the club 2013 in favour of a move to Crystal Palace, but hasn't played competitive football since 2016.

Jem Karacan is the first central midfielder in the team, with the former Reading man putting in a number of hugely impressive performances for the Berkshire-based club.

Karacan progressed through the club's academy system, and went on to make 175 appearances in total for the Royals. He suffered two serious knee injuries in his time at the Madejski Stadium, but played his part in their promotion-winning season in the 2011/12 campaign.

The midfielder left the club in 2015, and went on to sign for Turkish giants Galatasaray. But after spells with the likes of Bolton Wanderers, Millwall and Australian side Central Coast Mariners, Karacan is now playing his football for League Two side Scunthorpe United.

His tireless work-rate made him a firm fans favourite amongst the Madejski Stadium faithful.

Mikele Leigertwood was Karacan's central midfielder partner in Reading's promotion-winning season in the 2011/12 campaign.

The midfielder made over 100 appearances for Reading in total, after a spell with QPR. Leigertwood often went under the radar for his performances, but certainly made a positive impact in his time at the Madejski Stadium.

He scored the all-important goal for Reading as they won promotion into the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the Madejski Stadium back in 2012.

Leigertwood left Reading in 2014, and retired from his playing career soon after, and is now back working with the Berkshire-based club.

Jobi McAnuff is in at left-midfield, with the Jamaican winger playing a key role in the club's promotion-winning season in the 2011/12 campaign.

McAnuff signed for the club in 2009 after a spell with Watford, and went on to make 206 appearances for Reading in a five-year spell with the Berkshire-based side.

McAnuff captained Reading to promotion into the Premier League, before departing in 2014. He has since gone on to have spells with Stevenage and Leyton Orient.

He is now a player/manager with Leyton Orient, and has started life in the dugout strongly with the League Two side.

Adam Le Fondre is the first forward in the team, with the former Reading man scoring some crucial goals for the club, both in the Championship and the Premier League.

He scored 15 goals for Reading in their promotion-winning season, which included a memorable brace against Southampton off the substitutes bench, which sent the Royals to the top of the Championship table at the time.

He then continued his goalscoring exploits off the substitutes bench in the top-flight, and scored a late brace to rescue a point against Chelsea at the Madejski Stadium.

Le Fondre left the club in favour of a move to Cardiff City in 2014, and was most recently playing his football with Indian side Mumbai City, whilst on loan from Sydney FC.

Yann Kermorgant is the final name on the teamsheet, with the Frenchman spending two years with the club in total.

He arrived after a spell with AFC Bournemouth, and caught the eye with a number of impressive performances for the Berkshire-based side, as he scored 24 goals in 92 appearances for the Royals.

Kermorgant scored the vital goal that sent Reading into the Championship play-off final in the 2016/17 season, although they fell short in their efforts to win promotion into the Premier League, after a defeat to Huddersfield Town at Wembley.

He left the club in 2018, and went on to sign for French side Vannes, before he called time on his playing career in 2020.