The history of football boots
In the beginning…
Football boots in the 1920’s, 1930’s, 1940’s and for some of the 1950’s were made from very hard wearing leather with a double or triple layer of even harder leather on the toe box. They were extremely heavy, with a double layer of leather on the sole so that 6 studs could be nailed into the sole unit to provide traction. The upper of the boots came above the ankle to provide protection and support for that area.
Better players and professional players spent many hours oiling and greasing the boots and then rubbing dubbin on them to make them more soft and supple. They even used hammers on the hard toe boxes to make them soft. This was all to get a better feel on the ball – which at that time was also made of leather. In those days both the ball and the boots got a lot heavier in wet conditions.
The revolution
In 1954 Germany won the World Cup in footwear that would change the football boot industry for ever. Adi Dassler, of sports firm adidas introduced football boots with screw-in studs. The boots were massively lighter, used softer leather for enhanced flexibility and feel, and had removable ‘screw-in system’* studs which allowed length of stud to be changed according to ground conditions.
In 1956 adidas took their ‘revolution’ one step further and introduced ‘polyamide’ sole units instead of leather. These were not only lighter, but more flexible and non-porous – meaning that they didn’t feel like lead in wet conditions.
Adidas also introduced Kangaroo skin, or K-leather as it is sometimes referred. This upper moulded to the foot better, was hard wearing and gave and allowed for a great touch on the football. Nearly 50 years on this is still regarded as the best leather for football boots.
In the next few years moulded football boots for wear on firm natural surfaces were introduced to an increasingly global football market. These had more studs (often 12) for better traction and comfort on hard ground. 1979 saw the introduction of the worlds best ever selling football boot – the adidas Copa Mundial (incredibly still a top seller to this day). By this time there were many companies making football boots e.g. Adidas, Puma, Umbro, Lotto, Diadora, Mizuno, Patrick, Kappa, Valsport, A-Line, Reebok, Asics, Mitre etc.
In order to illustrate the huge leaps that were made during these developmental years – it wasn’t until the mid 1990’s that any significant improvements were made in the football boot market place – unbelievable.
The next wave
1994 saw the next great ‘mass-market’ innovation in football boots, and this again came from adidas with the Predator. The Predator had two significant developments. One, on the upper where strips of rubber were placed in the forefoot of the toebox area. This was to enhance feel, power and swerve – the rubber part of the boot gripped the football (by now footballs were totally synthetic). The second major development was on the sole unit, where a traxion sole unit made from a number of strategically aligned blades supposedly gave a better grip.
While the predator technologies were happening, Nike – a relative latecomer into the football business were investing huge amounts in product development, merchandising and marketing and the results were many product innovations of their own. The introduction of Nike Air cushioning technology provided footballers with welcome enhanced cushioning (as seen in the Nike Air Zoom Total 90, Nike Tiempo Legend). But perhaps their biggest development was in their development of synthetic leathers. Nike’s ultimate aim was to bring a boot to the marketplace that did not stretch, did not lose its shape, repelled water, was lighter and gave a better touch on the synthetic football.
The Nike Mercurial Vapour is now on the market weighing only 198 g (the same as some sprinting spikes) – it I the lightest boot ever made. In their own words – ‘ the vapour is built around a ‘Nike frame’ for immediate take off, it has a sculptured arch and external heel counter for comfort and support. Also the snap studs allow easy and quick change according to ground conditions. The upper repels water and provides enhanced touch and control’. Nike have also developed other technologies including – synthetic KNG100 upper, side lacing for increased striking surface.
Old school versus New school
In the last ten years since the introduction of the Predator there is still a strong debate as to which boots are better – the modern genre - Adidas Predators, Mercurial Vapours, Total 90 - or the old classics like the Adidas World Cup, Puma King and the Copa Mundial.
Regardless, the Football boots market is now worth billions worldwide and at this moment the dominant brands are Nike and Adidas - young gunslinger versus old master - who between them control about 70% of the global boots market.
*Screw-in system: the stud is screwed into the female part of the sole unit – called the cleat. The cleat is nailed to the inside of the boot, passing through the sole unit to meet the screw-in stud.
