Archive May 2, 2025

As a result of Joe Allen’s frustration with the attention that comes with playing football, he once said that he wished he could have always worn an invisible cloak throughout his career.

The midfielder made the comment while recording a podcast conversation with Owain Tudur Jones, a former Wales and Swansea City team-mate, for his good friend.

That provided a unique insight into Allen’s innermost thoughts. The 35-year-old prefers the quiet lifestyle to that which his athletic talents have given him, despite being approachable and a thoughtful interviewee.

However, it is difficult to completely escape the spotlight when Gareth Bale, in the eyes of the majority of people, refers to you as “the greatest player of Wales.”

As his nation soared to incredible new heights with their inspiring ascent to the Euro 2016 semi-finals, Allen was a whirring, combative constant as its country reached a pivotal role in Wales’ golden age.

The midfielder helped Wales win their first World Cup in 64 years, joining Uefa in France’s team of the tournament, and was named in the tournament’s champions.

Allen claims to be “incredibly proud.” It has been a privilege and an honor to be a part of this group and a time that has had many wonderful experiences.

Allen thinks about his career in the same way he did when he was a professional: selfless, considerate, and passionate.

His technical skill on the field and his unwavering lack of possession skills set the tone for his teams more than just a cog in the machine.

Brendan Rodgers moved from Swansea to Liverpool in 2012 with the then-teen he had nicknamed “The Welsh Xavi.”

Allen would start for the Reds in more than 100 games before returning to Swansea in 2022 after six years with Stoke City, the club he had supported when he was a boy and when he was only nine.

Allen’s status as a hero was already established because he had previously played for the Swans before being promoted to the Premier League a decade later, but injury prevented him from completing his second spell.

As his powers gradually diminished as the end of his career approached, Allen’s game-time gradually decreased. In the end, he was aware of when the right moment was to retire.

“Getting older, the physical demands, the punishment that the body has already endured, and staying in shape since returning have been issues,” Allen says.

Allen’s final game of the Championship season will be against Swansea at home to Oxford United on Saturday, but there won’t be a curtain-raise against Wales.

After Wales’ group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup, Allen had previously decided to stop playing international football before being persuaded by head coach Craig Bellamy to do so last year.

Bellamy praised Allen for his role as a role model for the younger members of his squad just a few months into his tenure.

He was fantastic. Although these conversations are difficult, Allen describes the moment he told Bellamy he would be retiring permanently as nothing more than a supportive person.

I expressed my gratitude to him for everything he has done for me. I had him as a manager and played with him as a team-mate, and we both learned a lot from him. I’ll always be grateful that he gave me the chance to rejoin the squad.

Bellamy had stated that he wanted to give Allen the “fairytale ending” that his Wales career deserved, but that is currently not possible.

When he started in his place against Montenegro in October, his first international appearance in nearly two years, he was at least greeted enthusiastically by his adoring supporters.

Allen himself readily admits that he no longer acted as a force for his country as he once did.

Wales almost suffered a last-gasp defeat in their World Cup qualifier thanks to a ominous misplaced pass against North Macedonia in March, but David Brooks equalized even more strongly in extra time.

Allen laughs at what was a “depressing” moment at the time, saying, “It was a shocker.”

“It was the team’s equalization that helped me get out of a big hole. No regrets, though, as it was fantastic to come back and put on the shirt once more.

Tellingly, Brooks claimed in his post-game interviews that he and his team-mates were even more determined to bring down Allen so that the “legend” was not held responsible for the defeat.

It’s disappointing that Allen was unable to bid farewell on his own soil despite the fact that Wales were able to salvage a draw in Skopje.

However, when he first made the announcement of his international retirement, he had avert such fanfare.

Although Allen had hoped to make it to the 2026 World Cup this time around, he realized he couldn’t continue if those hopes started to wane.

That played a significant role in the choice. He claims that my gut told him I wasn’t going to get there.

Or that it wasn’t going to be the level I wanted to play for my country at a World Cup if I did.

Since Allen did not think it would be possible to make Wales’ upcoming game, a qualifying game against Liechtenstein in June, a personal send-off, there was no World Cup final act and no summer anthem.

He claims that having played my final club game, been retired, and then returned to play for international football would have complicated things.

“A difficult choice, but one that made sense,” I said.

And so will Wales resurrect after Joe Allen when they play at Cardiff City Stadium in June.

A country will express its gratitude to one of its greatest athletes, but he won’t pitch in the midst of the applause.

Joe Allen once said that he wished he could have worn an invisibility cloak throughout his career, such was his unease about the attention that comes with being an elite footballer.

The midfielder made the comment during a conversation he had recorded for a podcast with his good friend and former Wales and Swansea City team-mate Owain Tudur Jones.

That was a rare insight into Allen’s innermost thoughts. Although he is approachable and a thoughtful, articulate interviewee, the 35-year-old prefers the quiet life to the one his sporting gifts have bestowed upon him.

But it is difficult to shun the limelight completely when Gareth Bale – Wales’ greatest player of all, in most people’s eyes – describes you as a “legend”.

A central figure in Wales’ golden age, Allen was a whirring, combative constant as his country soared to dizzying new heights with their inspiring ascent to the Euro 2016 semi-finals.

The midfielder was named in Uefa’s team of the tournament in France, and then helped Wales qualify for the next European Championship as well as a first World Cup in 64 years.

“I’m incredibly proud,” Allen says. “To be part of this group and era that have had many great times has been a privilege, a real honour.

Allen reflects on his career in the same way he played – selfless, considered, passionate.

He was more than a cog in the machine; his technical quality on the ball set the tone for his teams as much as his tenacity without possession.

That is why Brendan Rodgers took the then 22-year-old he had dubbed ‘The Welsh Xavi’ with him from Swansea to Liverpool in 2012.

Allen would make more than 100 appearances for the Reds and then later, after six years with Stoke City, in 2022 he came home to Swansea, the club he had supported as a boy and joined as a nine-year-old.

Allen’s hero status was already secured having been part of the Swans team promoted to the Premier League a decade earlier, but his second spell was hindered by injury.

As the end of his career came into view, Allen’s game-time gradually decreased as his powers waned. Ultimately, he had the self-awareness to know when the time was right to retire.

“Getting older and the physical demands, the punishment that the body’s gone through already and staying fit since coming back has been an issue,” Allen says.

Swansea’s final game of the Championship season at home to Oxford United on Saturday will be Allen’s last, but there will be no such curtain call with Wales.

Allen had retired from international football in the wake of Wales’ group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup, only to be persuaded to reverse his decision last year by head coach Craig Bellamy.

Only a couple of months into his tenure, Bellamy spoke glowingly about Allen, not only as a player but as a role model for the younger members of his squad.

“He was great. These conversations are tough to have but he was nothing but supportive,” Allen says about the moment when he told Bellamy he would be retiring permanently.

“I thanked him for everything he’s done for me. I played with him as a team-mate and also had him as a manager and learned a lot from him from both sides. I’ll always be grateful for him giving me the opportunity to come back to the squad.

Bellamy had said he wanted to give Allen the “fairytale ending” his Wales career deserved, but that will not happen now.

He was at least given a rapturous welcome by his adoring fans when he came on as a substitute against Montenegro last October, his first international appearance for nearly two years.

But as Allen himself readily admits, he was no longer the force he once was for his country.

A rare misplaced pass against North Macedonia in March almost consigned Wales to a last-gasp defeat in their World Cup qualifier, only for David Brooks to equalise even deeper into added time.

“It was a shocker,” Allen says, now able to laugh at what was a “depressing” moment at the time.

“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.”

Tellingly, Brooks said in his post-match interviews that he and his team-mates were even more determined to level the game so the “legend” Allen was not blamed for defeat.

Even though Wales were able to salvage a draw in Skopje, it is a little sad that Allen was not able to bid farewell on home soil.

Then again, he had avoided such fanfare when he first announced his international retirement.

This time around, the aim was to qualify for the 2026 World Cup but, if those hopes were beginning to fade, Allen felt he could not continue.

“That was a big part of the decision. My instinct told me I wasn’t going to get there,” he says.

“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.”

No World Cup final act and no swansong this summer, as Allen did not entertain the idea of making Wales’ next game – a qualifier at home to Liechtenstein in June – a personal send-off.

“I think it would have complicated things in many ways to have played my last club game, be retired, and then turn up for international football,” he says.

“A tough choice but one I think made sense.”

And so when Wales return to Cardiff City Stadium in June, they will be beginning life after Joe Allen once again.

A nation will show its appreciation for one of its greats, but he will not be on the pitch to soak up the adulation.