In the History of Soccer Cleats – Part 1 we discussed the evolution of soccer cleats from the very first design all the way to the shoes of the 1960’s. We will now take a look at the history of soccer cleats from the 1970’s to today.

The 1970’s ushered in a new era in the world of soccer. Not only were manufacturers getting better at producing soccer cleats, but for the first time ever players began to be sponsored by individual companies. For the first time ever, players were paid by manufacturers to sport their soccer cleats and/or accessories while playing.

Adidas Copa Mundial Soccer Cleats

In the 70’s the materials that were used to produce soccer cleats also started to evolve. No longer was regular leather the only choice for making soccer shoes. Synthetic materials allowed for cleats to be lighter and stronger and improved traction. These new materials also meant that soccer cleats could now be produced in a variety of colors, even white! Adidas came out with their world famous Copa Mundial in 1979. These cleats were made from kangaroo leather which provided speed and versatility that was unmatched. The Copa Mundial soccer cleat is still available for purchase at the time of this writing. One of the more notable contemporary soccer cleat manufacturers, Diadora, was founded in Italy in 1977.

More and more manufacturers began to emerge during the 1980’s. Some of these manufacturers included Lotto & Kelme during 1982, and Umbro during 1985. Like the 70’s, newfangled technologies that emerged in the 1980’s allowed for even more performance increases. Placement of the studs on the cleats improved traction between the soccer shoe and the ground and improved materials allowed for players to have even more power and control of the soccer ball. Manufacturers began to place power & swerve zones on soccer shoes. Think of these as the “Sweet Spots” on the soccer shoes that when struck properly would inflict greater power and or swerve (curve) on a shot.

Original Design of the Nike Predator Soccer Cleat (1994)

In 1994 Adidas released the Predator soccer shoe, which was designed by Craig Johnston during the 80’s. The unique style and unprecedented technology of the Predator made it an instant hit for Adidas. The predator soccer cleat would continue to evolve throughout the 90’s ultimately allowing for a more flexible sole and a “bladed” design for the studs on the bottom of the cleat. During the 1990’s soccer was extremely popular and more and more manufacturers joined the industry, most notably Nike. One of Nike’s very first designs was the Mercurial in 1998, making it one of the lightest soccer cleats on the market weighing in at only 200g.

As technology continues to advance, the design and performance of soccer cleats will continue to improve. Although there are lots of smaller companies that make cleats, the most popular companies are still Adidas and Puma, followed by Nike. Manufacturers no longer must choose between protection, performance or style – They are able to provide all three in the same design. As long as there is soccer, there will be a need for a soccer shoe. Just like any other industry, manufacturers of soccer shoes will always be looking for new ways to make a faster, lighter and stronger soccer cleat, and we can’t wait to see what they come up with!

Soccer Cleats Similar to Those worn by King Henry VIII

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, and has been played in almost every country across many generations. Even though the game of soccer is thought to date all the way back to the 2nd and 3rd century BC, the first soccer shoes or soccer cleats were thought to have originated sometime around the 1500’s. King Henry VIII is credited as having the first pair of soccer cleats and they were likely made by the Shoemaker Cornelius Johnson around 1525. Although these were technically soccer cleats, they differed greatly from the soccer shoes that we have come to know. King Henry’s soccer cleats were ankle high and were made of rigid leather that was much heavier than the material used for making normal shoes of the time.

“Slipper” Style Soccer Cleats With 6 Studs

Prior to King Henry VIII’s soccer cleats, players would use their hard, leather work boots that usually had a steel toe-cap. As you can imagine, these were not the ideal shoe to wear for playing soccer! To gain more traction, the players started to hammer metal studs to the bottom of their shoes. As the game evolved and become more popular in the late 1800’s the demand for better soccer shoes began to increase. It was then that the shift from wearing soccer “boots” to the more traditional “slipper” style happened. Players wanted a soccer shoe that was better designed and more comfortable.

As the game began to develop and become more organized rules about what were acceptable soccer cleats did as well. The old metal studs that players pounded into the bottom of their soccer shoes now had to be rounded to prevent injuries. These cleats typically had 6 studs, were made of leather, and had a tendency to become very heavy during rain. These 6 studded, heavy leather cleats remained relatively unchanged the mid 1900’s.

Soccer cleat manufacturers such as Gola, Valsport and Hummel began to produce soccer shoes starting in the early 1900’s. Around 1925 the Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik (Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory), led by two German brothers Adolf & Rudolf, produced the first soccer cleats with interchangeable studs. These interchangeable studs allowed players to adjust to different field conditions without having to purchase multiple pairs of cleats.

The next big evolution in soccer cleats happened from 1940 – 1960. In the post-World War II era manufacturing became stronger than ever before. Air travel also became much more affordable and more and more international matches began to be played. The increase in international play began to highlight the incredible skill that players all around the world had. Both of these factors influenced the next innovation of soccer shoes. Manufacturers began to producer lighter cleats that allowed players to focus on kicking and controlling the soccer ball on a mass scale. Soccer cleats began to focus on ability to enhance a player’s skill, not just on protective qualities.

Puma Super Atom Soccer Cleat

During the early 1940’s the Dassler Brothers, Adolf & Rudolf, dissolved the Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik shoe company. Adolf formed Adidas out of the original factory, and Rudolf ended up forming Puma a few years later in 1948. Puma began to produce the Puma Atom, which had the first interchangeable studs that were constructed of plastic or rubber instead of metal. Later in the 1960’s Puma designed a cleat to be worn by the soccer legend, Pelé. The 60’s also gave birth to several other soccer cleat manufacturers including Mitre, Asics and Joma.

Want to learn more about the history of soccer shoes? Keep reading in The History of Soccer Cleats – Part 2