
Joe Allen announced his decision to retire from international football back in February 2023, still hurting from the disappointment of the World Cup in Qatar that saw Cymru exit at the group stage with just a single point.
In a short statement published at the time, Allen confirmed that his 74th cap would be his last and that ‘it was time to make way for our next generation’. Since making his senior debut from the bench against Estonia in May 2009, Allen had established himself as one of the greatest-ever players to represent Cymru in an international career defined by reaching the semi-finals of EURO 2016.
But in a surprise twist, the 34-year old Swansea City midfielder has answered the call of new head coach Craig Bellamy and is included in the squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Iceland and Montenegro. Instead of making way for our next generation, Allen now appears set to play a key part of this exciting new era, with Bellamy in no doubt that he has much more to offer the national team.
“He’s just high quality and I honestly believe he has more to give,” said Bellamy, who played alongside Allen for Cymru, at the squad announcement on Wednesday. “The way he’s looked after himself through his career, of course he’s had injuries of late, but I’ve watched him training for Swansea and he’s the type of person – he’s the type of profile – you want in a squad, just by his leadership skills as well.”
Injuries to Ethan Ampadu and captain Aaron Ramsey have increased the importance of Allen’s potential midfield presence, but Bellamy insisted that he was in his plans prior to those respective setbacks. The question now will be around Allen’s fitness and how many minutes he will be able to contribute for the side when the Nations League resumes next week.

“We’ll wait and see on that,” said Bellamy when asked that very question. “We’ll look at training, the data that comes back, speak to Swansea of course on it, see the situation on his rehab work and what he needs to be doing. But it’s important that by the time these games are finished we send him back to Swansea in a really healthy position to be able to contribute to them as well. That’s really important for us, and hopefully that’ll be the case.”
The conflict of interests between club and country is a delicate discussion, but while Bellamy is new in the role he has clearly found common ground with Swansea City head coach Luke Williams. “He’s been first class,” said Williams to BBC Sport Wales when asked about the Cymru head coach. “The level of understanding and appreciation he has for the player and for what we need as a club has been exceptional.”
Good club relations are crucial in the international game as Bellamy prepares himself for the dreaded final weekend of club games before the international break, with Allen one of four Swansea City players in the Cymru squad alongside Oli Cooper, Ben Cabango and Liam Cullen. “I think the national team is on to something really fantastic,” Williams added. “I’m happy more of our players can be involved in that.”
A fan favourite with The Red Wall, the last time Allen celebrated a Cymru victory was in Cardiff against Ukraine in the World Cup play-off final in June 2022. It was a famous night that meant as much to Allen as it did to every fan in attendance, but what followed in Qatar appears to have left him with unfinished business, and Bellamy believes he can now play a role in helping his team reach the 2026 finals.
A veteran of three major tournaments with Cymru, Allen’s quality on the field will bring a new dimension to Bellamy’s side, while his experience will be crucial as the squad adapt to the new identity and style of play that was on show in the opening fixtures against Türkiye and Montenegro last month. “Obviously I have one eye on the future but also I’m very conscious of the present,” Bellamy explained.
“It’s important how we want to identify our team, I just want us to create our identity. Joe, due to his experience as a player but also his experience at the club and the teams he’s been at, and the managers he’s played under, will help us create that identity quicker. The way I see him playing and the way we set up, I see a perfect role for him. He’s a clever player, his football intelligence is ridiculously high, and that alone will be a lot for us.”
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