Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen swaps the Kop for the coop as Welshman tells of his love for his 16 pet chickens  

The life of a footballer is perceived by some to be a very simple one, train, play and have lots of free-time and get paid well for it at the same time.

Coupled with the high-pressured nature of their job and constant scrutiny, it is little wonder their minds will wander into slightly more bizarre thinkings, as they attempt to distance themselves from the stress of the game.

To fill that time, some players will buy a car, challenge team-mates to a game of FIFA, get a tattoo or post pictures to social media, Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen however, is cut from a different cloth.

Joe Allen spoke to Chicken and Egg magazine about his love for his pet chickens - 16 in total

The Liverpool star has been compared to Andrea Pirlo after growing his hair out and sporting a beard

Speaking to Chicken and Egg magazine, the Welshman revealed his humble pastime revolved around poultry, as he takes care of 16 pet chickens with his wife.

'Lacey was behind the decision... we both have an interest in animal welfare but she came up with the idea to save hens and I agreed it was something that would be great to do,' he said.

'We didn't have any hens growing up but wanted to help chickens after they finished their commercial lives.' 

The World Cup winner now with New York City is very much a doppelgänger for the Anfield player 

The former Swansea star (C) has said that each one of his chickens he looks after with his wife has a name

The former Swansea star has been affectionately compared to Italian legend Andrea Pirlo since growing out his hair and sporting a beard, but while the World Cup winner is very much a wine man with a vineyard back home, Allen prefers his coop, where each chicken - including two cockerels and 14 hens, has a name.    

'The cockerels are called Bruce and Rodney, while the hens are named Meg, Leg, Silkie Steve, Kate, Silkie Steve junior, Giblets, Snowy, Nugget, Kiev, Dora, Holly, Shimmer, Shine and Chickaletta.'