Swansea City and Wales great Allen set to retire from Football
Allen, is out of contract at Swansea this summer and has opted to call time on a career in which he has made almost 600 club appearances and won 77 international caps after his “instinct” told him he was not going to reach next year’s World Cup.
The 35-year-old has called time on a glittering career, which included a four-year spell at Liverpool, and six years at Stoke City, but will always be remembered for his time at at boyhood club Swansea City where it all began.
Allen won his first Wales cap in 2009 having come through the ranks at Swansea, where he made his league debut as a 16-year-old in 2007.
He helped Swansea win the League One title in his full season, then played a central role as they became the first Welsh club to win promotion to the Premier League in 2011.
After a year in the top flight with Swansea, Allen followed manager Brendan Rodgers to Liverpool in a £15m deal in 2012.
He made 132 appearances for Liverpool, and was part of the side which came close to ending the Reds’ wait for a Premier League title in 2014, before joining Stoke for £13m in 2016.
Allen played more than 200 games for the Potters, staying with the club despite relegation to the Championship in 2018, before opting to rejoin Swansea when his contract expired in 2022.
Allen, memorably, was also part of the Wales team that qualified for three major tournaments, including the magical run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016.
Allen’s journey as a footballer will now finish with the Swans after making 250 appearances across two spells with the club he first joined at the age of nine.
[Credit Football Association of Wales]“This is incredibly difficult. This is not something I’ve taken lightly, I’ve spent a lot of time pondering it,” said Allen to the media ahead of the Swans clash with Oxford.
“It’s not something I’ve taken lightly, spent a lot of time pondering it. The timing’s right. I got to 100 per cent about a month ago and 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.
“I’m very proud. 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 very grateful and thankful to everyone who has has helped me on my way to have these amazing experiences.”
“I 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.”
[Lead image: Swansea City FC]
