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Former Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen has confirmed his decision to retire from soccer at all levels.

The 35-year-old made the shock announcement before Swansea City’s final game of the season at home to Oxford United on Saturday, which will be the last of Allen’s impressive career.

He has made nearly 600 appearances at club level - including 132 for Liverpool - and earned 77 international caps for Wales, the last of which came in March.



But Allen has made just seven league starts all season for Swansea in an injury-ravaged campaign and feels now is the right time to call it a day.

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I've enjoyed it."

“There are a lot of factors that go into the decision, but the truth is, when you get to 35, you’re only getting worse,” Allen continued.

“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.

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Allen moved to Stoke after his four-year stint at Liverpool.

Allen began and ended his career with Swansea, the club he helped guide to promotion in 2011, a year before following Brendan Rodgers to Liverpool.

A stint at Stoke City, where he played 221 times, also punctuated his stints in Swansea and Merseyside, while Allen played at three international tournaments for Wales, including the memorable run to the semi-finals of Euro 2012.

Reflecting on his career highlights, Allen referenced his time at Liverpool as a major honor

“The ones that spring straight to mind are winning the play-off final to get promoted to the Premier League, and then that first season in the Premier League and some of the victories we had at home,” he told Swansea’s website.

“They were incredible moments, and then the chance to play for Liverpool – such an historic club – and be playing alongside some of the greats and fighting for the title there.

“I had some really good years at Stoke, but the summer in France with Wales and qualifying for the World Cup are more memories and experiences where I find myself pinching myself