Joe Allen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Joe Allen

Allen lining up for Wales in 2016
Personal information
Full name	Joseph Michael Allen
Date of birth	(1990-03-14) 14 March 1990 (age 35)
Place of birth	Carmarthen, Wales
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
1997–2000	Tenby
2000–2007	Swansea City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2012	Swansea City	127	(7)
2008	→ Wrexham (loan)	2	(1)
2012–2016	Liverpool	91	(4)
2016–2022	Stoke City	212	(18)
2022–2025	Swansea City	69	(4)
Total		501	(34)
International career
2005–2006	Wales U17	10	(1)
2006–2007	Wales U19	3	(0)
2007–2011	Wales U21	14	(2)
2009–2025	Wales	77	(2)
2012	Great Britain Olympic	5	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Joseph Michael Allen, born on March 14, 1990, is a Welsh former professional footballer. He was known for playing as a midfielder.

Joe Allen started his football journey at Swansea City. He made his first team debut in January 2007 when he was just 16. Over six years, he played in 150 matches for Swansea. He also had a short loan spell at Wrexham. During his time at Swansea, the team earned two promotions, moving from League One all the way to the Premier League.

In 2012, Allen played for the Great Britain Olympic team at the 2012 London Olympics. Later that year, he joined Liverpool, where he played for four seasons. In July 2016, he moved to Stoke City. After playing over 220 games for Stoke, he returned to Swansea City in 2022.

Joe Allen also had a successful international career playing for the Wales national team starting in 2009. He represented Wales at the UEFA European Championship in 2016 and 2020. He helped Wales reach the semi-finals in the 2016 tournament. He also played a key role in Wales qualifying for the FIFA World Cup in 2022. This was Wales' first World Cup appearance since 1958.

Early Life and Football Beginnings

Joe Allen was born in Carmarthen, Wales. He grew up in a town called Narberth in Pembrokeshire. He attended Narberth Primary School and Ysgol y Preseli. Joe is also a fluent Welsh language speaker. He began playing football for a local team called Tenby until he was ten years old.

Club Career Highlights

Playing for Swansea City

Allen playing for Swansea City in 2011

Joe Allen joined the Swansea City youth academy when he was nine. He made his first team debut for Swansea in January 2007 at just 16 years old. This was in an FAW Premier Cup match. A few weeks later, he played his first league game.

In August 2007, Allen made his first start for Swansea in a League Cup match against Walsall. He was named the man of the match for his excellent performance. Soon after, he signed his first professional contract with Swansea, keeping him at the club until 2010. He played 14 games that season as Swansea won the League One title.

The next season, Swansea played in the Championship. Joe Allen found it harder to get into the first team. In October 2008, he joined Conference Premier club Wrexham on a one-month loan. He scored a goal from 25 yards in his very first game for Wrexham. However, his loan ended early due to an ankle injury.

Allen returned to Swansea and became a regular player again in the 2010–11 season. He played 40 league matches and scored two goals. He played a full 90 minutes as Swansea won promotion to the Premier League. They beat Reading 4–2 in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium.

Before the 2011–12 Premier League season began, Allen signed a new four-year contract with Swansea. He played in 36 of the 38 top-flight games that season, scoring four goals.

Time at Liverpool

Allen warming up for Liverpool in 2012

On August 10, 2012, Joe Allen joined Liverpool in a transfer deal. He followed his former Swansea manager, Brendan Rodgers, to Anfield. Allen made his Premier League debut for Liverpool on August 18, 2012. He was voted man of the match by fans and journalists in his second game for the club. He also won Liverpool's Player of the Month award for August 2012.

Allen scored his first goal for Liverpool in January 2013 in an FA Cup match. He scored his first European goal in the UEFA Europa League in February. In March 2013, he had shoulder surgery and missed the rest of the season.

In the 2013–14 Premier League season, Allen scored his first league goal for Liverpool. He played 26 games as Liverpool almost won the Premier League title. In the 2014–15 season, he played 32 games. He was praised for his performance in a 2–1 win against Manchester City. In April 2015, he scored his first goal at Anfield against Newcastle United.

Before the 2015–16 season, Allen suffered an injury. In January 2016, he scored a last-minute goal against Arsenal. He also scored the winning penalty in a shootout against Stoke City, sending Liverpool to the League Cup Final. Liverpool lost the final on penalties. Allen also played in the 2016 UEFA Europa League Final where Liverpool were defeated. After the season, Allen wanted to play more regularly.

Playing for Stoke City

On July 25, 2016, Allen signed a five-year contract with Stoke City. He made his Premier League debut for Stoke on August 13, 2016. Allen said he needed to leave Liverpool to get more playing time. He scored his first goal for Stoke on September 24, 2016. He then scored against Manchester United in October, helping Stoke earn a point at Old Trafford for the first time since 1980.

Allen continued his goal-scoring form, scoring two goals in a 2–0 win against Sunderland. In November 2016, he was considered for the UEFA Team of the Year. He played 39 games in the 2016–17 season, scoring six goals. Stoke finished 13th that season.

In the 2017–18 season, Allen played 38 games and scored four goals. Stoke was relegated to the Championship that season. Allen decided to stay with the club despite their relegation.

He signed a new four-year contract with Stoke in June 2018. Allen played every Championship game in the 2018–19 season. He scored six goals, including important winning goals against Leeds United and his old club, Swansea.

In the 2019–20 season, Allen was sent off in a game against Bristol City. He scored in Michael O'Neill's first match as manager, helping Stoke move off the bottom of the table. In December 2019, Allen scored twice against Luton Town. He suffered a serious Achilles tendon injury in March 2020, which ended his season. Stoke managed to avoid relegation without him.

Allen returned from injury in December 2020. He played 19 games in the 2020–21 season. However, he got another injury while playing for Wales in March 2021. Before the 2021–22 season, manager Michael O'Neill made Allen captain. Stoke had a tough season and finished 14th. Allen left Stoke at the end of the season when his contract ended.

Return to Swansea City

On July 8, 2022, Joe Allen returned to his first club, Swansea City. He signed a two-year contract. On May 2, 2025, Swansea City announced that Allen would retire from football at the end of the 2024–25 season. His final game was a 3–3 draw against Oxford United.

International Career for Wales

Allen playing for Wales in 2016

After signing his first professional contract with Swansea in August 2007, Joe Allen was called up to the Wales under-21 team. He scored the winning goal in a 4–3 victory against Sweden.

In May 2009, Allen made his debut for the senior Wales team in a friendly match against Estonia. Wales won 1–0. He made his first start for Wales in October 2011. In October 2012, he was named Wales' Player of the Year.

Allen captained Wales for the first time in June 2014 against the Netherlands. He played a big part in Wales successfully qualifying for UEFA Euro 2016. In November 2015, he had a penalty saved in a game against the Netherlands, but his teammate scored from the rebound.

At Euro 2016, Allen set up a goal in a 3–0 win against Russia. This win helped Wales finish top of their group and move to the knockout stage. Wales reached the semi-finals but lost to Portugal. Allen was chosen for the Team of the Tournament for his great performances.

In May 2021, he was selected for the Wales squad for the delayed UEFA Euro 2020 tournament. In November 2022, he was part of the Wales squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

On February 7, 2023, Joe Allen announced his retirement from international football with the Wales national team. However, in October 2024, he was called back to the Wales squad by manager Craig Bellamy due to injuries to other midfielders.

Playing Style

Joe Allen was known as a hard-working and disciplined midfielder. He was good at winning the ball back and helping his team move from defense to attack. He was a versatile player with quick feet. He could play in several midfield roles.

Because of his vision, calm play, and good passing, Allen was often compared to famous playmakers. His former manager, Brendan Rodgers, even called him the "Welsh Xavi" and the "Welsh Pirlo".

Personal Life

Joe Allen is married to Lacey, and they have a son. Inspired by his wife's interest in animal welfare, Joe adopts hens to save them after they can no longer lay eggs. Joe's brother, Harry, lost his hearing at age three due to meningitis. Joe became an ambassador for Action on Hearing Loss Cymru in March 2015. Harry also played football and was captain of the Welsh deaf futsal team.

Career Statistics

Allen playing for Stoke City in 2016

International Appearances

Allen with Wales in 2011

Wales' score listed first, score column indicates score after each Allen goal

List of international goals scored by Joe Allen

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	5 September 2016	Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales	32	Moldova	2–0	4–0	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
2	6 October 2016	Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria	33	Austria	1–0	2–2

Honours and Awards

Swansea City

• Football League Championship play-offs: 2011 (Promotion to Premier League)

Liverpool

• Football League Cup runner-up: 2015–16
• UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2015–16

Individual Awards

• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2016
• Welsh Footballer of the Year: 2012

See also

In Spanish: Joe Allen para niños