Football boots, also known as cleats or soccer shoes in North American English,[1] are a type of shoe worn when playing association football (soccer), most of its variations, and some games that are played on the same surface. Those designed for grass pitches have studs on the outsole to aid grip. Modern football boots are no longer truly traditional boots, as they do not cover the ankle. As with most other types of athletic footwear, their basic design and appearance have converged with those of sneakers since the 1960s.
Despite being most associated with football and rugby, the shoe is often used in other sports that are played on grass surfaces, such as touch, lacrosse, hurling, shinty, and tug of war.
History
Gath & Chaves advertisement promoting "foot-ball" products, including boots by British manufacturer McGregor at m$n10, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1910
1800s
During the 19th century, various forms of football became increasingly popular in Great Britain. Participants would wear their heavy and hard work-boots to play. These were an early form of football boots with the steel toe-cap at the front, and they had long laces and were high-topped. These boots also sometimes had metal studs or tacks put on the bottom, so players would have more grip and stability.[2][3]
In the later part of the 19th century, the first ever football-specific boot was designed, made of thick and heavy leather that ran right to the ankle for increased protection; the first boot weighed 500 grams (18oz) and would double in weight when it was wet.[4][failed verification]
1900–1940
During this period, the style of football boots stayed very basic. They remained so during the inter-war years, despite football-boots becoming more popular.
1940–1960
After the Second World War, the designs of the football boot changed dramatically. The South Americans first wore lighter and more flexible boots, which later came to the attention of other nations. This design focused on improving control and kicking-power rather than on a more protective boot. In 1954, Adi Dassler introduced screw-in studs that were used by the German team during a rain-lashed World Cup final that year.[citation needed] (Adi Dassler's older brother, Rudolf Dassler, founder of Puma, disputes the claim that Adi Dassler originated screw-in studs.)
1960s
In the 1960s, many football boots featured a lower cut and were designed to be lighter and more flexible.[5]Mitre, Joma, and Asics joined the fray. Adidas became the top manufacturer during this decade, with 75% of players at the 1966 FIFA World Cup wearing Adidas.[6]
1970s
The 1970s saw many major advances and changes in the design of football boots. These changes included lighter boots and a variety of colours. Boot sponsorship also became more widespread. Adidas was the market leader in this period, releasing new technologies such as padding to provide heel protection.[5] In 1979, Adidas released the successful Copa Mundial. During this time period, some of the most common types of natural leather came into use: kangaroo leather, calfskin and full-grain/cow leather.[7]
1980s
The 1980s saw further development of the technological advances of the football boot in the 1970s. Umbro, Lotto, and Kelme joined the market in this decade.
1990s
New types of soles were introduced to improve the balance of the player. The Adidas Predator, designed by Australian Craig Johnston in the late 1980s, was released in 1994. Mizuno, Reebok, Uhlsport, and Nike began consistently making football boots in this decade. Nike's first popular boot, the Nike Mercurial Vapor was worn by Ronaldo at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.[citation needed]
2000s
In the first decade of the 21st century, laser technology was introduced to produce the first fully customized football boot in 2006.[8] The first laceless boot, the Lotto Zhero Gravity, was also released in 2006.[9] Laceless boots later became very popular in the late 2010s.
2010s onward
In the era of the modern game that sees the tempo of matches becoming faster and players more technically inclined, manufacturers introduced new technology, including lighter footwear made from alternative materials.[10] Laceless boots became popular after Adidas released the Ace PureControl in 2016.[11][12] The first laceless boots were released by the Italian bootmaker company Lotto in 2006. Lotto Zero Gravity was worn by players such as Cafu, Andriy Shevchenko, and Luca Toni.[13] Companies such as Adidas Umbro, New Balance, and Nike have also released their versions of laceless shoes. Laceless boots demonstrate better lock down and lateral stability. A knitted upper allows players to have better ball control due to a larger surface area.[14]
Material for football boots
Football boots can be made from many different materials such as rubber, synthetic such as nylon and polyurethane, or leather. The most popular material for football boots is kangaroo leather.[15] Kangaroo leather is breathable and lightweight. Some players prefer leather while others like synthetic or plastic material because they are more durable and cheaper.[16]
Depending on the type of surface, kind of sport and even the wearer's position or role in the game, different styles of boot and particularly stud configurations are available.[17]
For hard pitches, amateur participants may wear a turf football boot (TF) or a plastic-stud boot (known as a "molded sole"). For indoor football, companies developed indoor court (IC) boots. These come with rubber soles intended to maximize grip on the floor, and are specifically designed for the indoor game. For football on turf or artificial grass, some players wear regular firm ground (FG) football boots. But wearing regular football boots on turf greatly reduces the life of the boot, so manufacturers have developed football boots for artificial grass (AG), which have smaller circular studs. The other type of football boot is SG (soft ground) for playing on well-grassed or sodden field.[18] When playing on this kind of pitch, some players favor using a boot with screw-in studs in their non-dominant (supporting) foot to provide grip, and a boot with short rubber or plastic studs in the dominant (kicking/passing) foot to help accuracy.
More recently, molded soles with specially designed boots known as blades have molded soles facing in multiple directions, theoretically to maximise grip and minimize ankle injury. Recently, however, "bladed" football boots have faced criticism from some UK sporting bodies for causing potentially serious injuries to players. English football club Manchester United have even banned their players from wearing boots with bladed studs after players like Wayne Rooney and David Beckham suffered repeated metatarsal injuries.[19]
Questions have been raised about the safety of female footballers wearing men's football boots, mainly due to foot shape and weight distribution differences between women's and men's feet.[20] Despite football boots being unisex, studies have shown that women tend to get injured more often while playing in football boots.[21]
Football markets and brands
A pair of Nike Zoom Air football boots, for use on artificial grass or sand and rubber pitches
↑ "Football Boots History". Footy-Boots.com. 9 May 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2023. [By] the mid-nineteenth century [...] workers were playing football in their hard, leather work boots with steel capped toes, sometimes with leather or tacks hammered into the soles as makeshift studs.
↑ Goldblatt, David (2007). The History of Football. Penguin Books. ISBN9780141911540.
McArthur, Ian; Kemp, Dave (1995). Elegance Borne of Brutality: An eclectic history of the football boot. London: Two Heads Publishing. ISBN1-897850-76-X.
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