Joe Allen has announced he will retire from professional football at the end of the season.
Allen, 35, revealed the decision on Friday morning and will play his final game for boyhood club Swansea against Oxford United on Saturday.
The midfielder, who earned the nickname ‘The Welsh Xavi’, enjoyed a hugely impressive career, representing Swansea, Liverpool and Stoke, while he had a short loan spell at Wrexham during his formative years.
Allen also won 77 caps for Wales, scoring twice, and he was part of their memorable run to the semi-finals at Euro 2016.
Explaining his decision, Allen said: ‘This is incredibly difficult. This is not something I’ve taken lightly, I’ve spent a lot of time pondering it.
‘The timing’s right. I made the decision, got to 100 per cent about a month ago.
Joe Allen has announced he will retire from professional football at the end of the season
Allen will play his final game for boyhood club Swansea against Oxford United on Saturday
The midfielder also won 77 caps for Wales and is one of his country’s greatest ever players
‘I wasn’t sure how the last few weeks would go, how I’d find things, but it’s actually been a good spell really. I’ve enjoyed it.
‘I’ve had a chance to reflect and take it all in. I’m really looking forward to what’s going to be my last game on Saturday.’
Allen, who also represented Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics, originally broke through at Swansea between 2007 and 2012 before he moved to Liverpool with former Swans boss Brendan Rodgers, joining for £15million that summer.
The midfielder racked up more than 132 appearances over four years at Anfield and then spent six years at Stoke until he returned to his boyhood club in 2022.
Allen was promoted to the Premier League with Swansea in 2011, while he was also named in the Team of the Tournament at Euro 2016.
And, reflecting on his career, Allen admitted he was extremely happy with what he had achieved.
‘I’m very proud,’ he added. ‘I didn’t think I’d be sat here playing as many games as I have for clubs I have done at that level and for Wales as well.
‘I’ve been incredibly fortunate and as I’ve reflected over the last few weeks I’m very grateful and thankful to everyone who has has helped me on my way to have these amazing experiences.
The 35-year-old admitted the decision was ‘incredibly difficult’, but he felt it was the right one
‘To be announcing my retirement as a Swansea City player makes it extra special, I have been very fortunate. To finish my career where it started, it feels like everything has come full circle.’
Allen has made 24 appearances in the Championship for Swansea this season and he will conclude his career having featured 230 times for the Welsh outfit, who currently sit 11th in the second tier.
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The midfielder’s retirement could prove to be a blow for Wales boss Craig Bellamy though.
Allen had retired after the 2022 World Cup, but Bellamy convinced the 35-year-old to reverse his decision last year and he subsequently featured in three games over recent months.
He remains one of the Welsh best players of his generation and was hailed by the country’s FA after news broke of his retirement.
‘A brilliant yet humble footballer,’ they said. ‘Allen remains an inspirational figure for all that he achieved, and he will be remembered as an exceptional talent who represented Cymru with his heart on his sleeve.’
