He was never an Ordinary Joe – a professional footballer who kept chickens, after all – but Joe Allen’s place in the hearts of Welsh football fans may never be surpassed by anyone else who wears the red shirt.

Allen – who has announced he will retire after Swansea City’s final match of the season on Saturday – was special in so many ways.

He was the young creative midfielder who pulled the strings for Swansea City as they surged into the Premier League, the fetcher, carrier, and all-purpose ball-retention device used by Wales in their wonderous 2016 Euros campaign, good enough to spend four of his peak years at Liverpool, and respected enough to be compared to some of the best midfielders in Europe.

But he was also a player held in such affection by Wales fans in a way that seemed to transcend club rivalries.

Cardiff City and Wrexham supporters making up the Red Wall were as happy to embrace his labels as “the Welsh Xavi” and “the Pembrokeshire Pirlo” as those from Swansea City.

Wales fans worshipped Gareth Bale, they loved Aaron Ramsey, but they were in love with Joe Allen.

Most thought the object of their affection would go on to try and be with Wales at next summer’s World Cup in North America.

But Allen is a realist and at the age of 35 he has decided his powers were on the wane. He didn’t think he would quite be able to make it to that tournament, so he has decided to bow out after this weekend’s home game against Oxford United.

“That was a big part of the decision,” he says. 

“My instinct told me I wasn’t going to get there.

“Or, if I did get there, it wasn’t going to be at the level I wanted to be representing my country at a World Cup.

“So, it certainly made thinking about retirement a lot harder, with that on the horizon next summer. But, realistically, I didn’t quite feel I was going to get there.

“There has not been a big moment where something has happened that prompted the decision, in terms of  ‘that was the moment’.

“Even going back to last year, there was no guarantee I was going to have the season I’ve had. I had a good idea then it was probably going to be my last season.

“As it’s gone on, as much as I have appreciated helping the team in any way I can - as someone who wants to play all the time, and to the level I used to play to - I just can’t do that any more.”

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Allen retired from international football after the 2022 World Cup, but was then persuaded by manager  Craig Bellamy to come back and add his guile and wisdom  to an inexperienced group.

He did so, but in March of this year came that very rare thing – a costly Joe Allen mistake.

It looked so unusual, so unlikely, that it appeared difficult to believes when he passed the ball straight to an opponent to allow North Macedonia to lead late on in Skopje in a match Wales had dominated.

But it said much about his self-belief and desire that it was Allen, moments later, who demanded the ball and set in motion the move that ended with a David Brooks equaliser.

It was, though, a significant moment – like an elderly driver first doubting their abilities after slightly clipping a curb.

Asked if he had any regrets about coming  back into international football, the man who won 77 caps for his country says: “None - apart from that blunder against North Macedonia! 

“I’m glad you can laugh about it. It was a shocker!  The team dug me out of a big hole by equalising.

“But no regrets. It was great to come back and pull on the shirt again, from a personal point of view. 

“To be back in the squad and see how Craig Bellamy and his staff work, and to see how some of my old teammates had grown and developed, and how much that group is moving forward - and see some of the new players - it was fantastic.”

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In all, Allen has played 582 club games for Swansea, Wrexham (loan), Liverpool, Stoke City and a second spell at the Swans.

That return has actually yielded more appearances this season, 29, that last (23) but he has been interrupted by niggling injuries that have prevented him at times from finding  his best form.

Even so, Swansea were keen to keep him on for one more season and talks had begun over a new deal.
 
“Lot of factors go into the decision. But when you get to 35, you're only getting worse. 

“I still think I have some value and something to offer but there's probably a line I didn't want to cross in terms of the level of performance I can give. 

“I'm probably right up to that line at the moment. When you couple that with the injuries you have accumulated over the years, I'm at that stage where I can't push things any further.

“The timing's right. I made the decision about a month ago. 

“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 have had a chance to reflect and take it all in. I am really looking forward to what's going to be my last game on Saturday.”

As for the future – for now it’s putting his feet up and counting those chickens.

“I've spent the last few years trying to get ahead of it and working out what it will be after playing. I'm none the wiser still. 

“Right now I'm looking forward to a break and hoping that when I stop playing I have a chance for a breather. 

“Some ideas will come to me and I'll know what I want to do next. Will it be within football? I'm not sure. 

“Right now I don't have a real burning desire to get stuck into anything. But it can't go on forever, I'll have to find what comes next.”

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