Article body analysed
By WILL PICKWORTH Published: 04: 42 AEST, 3 May 2025 | Updated: 04: 42 AEST, 3 May 2025 8 View comments 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. Allen, who was dubbed 'The Welsh Xavi' joined Liverpool in 2012 from Swansea for £15m 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. 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. '
Share what you think
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mail Online.
By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your Mail Online comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to Mail Online as usual. Do you want to automatically post your Mail Online comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to Mail Online as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on Mail Online. To do this we will link your Mail Online account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy. Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group