Evolution of Soccer Cleats [Everything you Need to Know]

Soccer cleats are a footwear article that is worn by players when they go out on the grassy pitches for playing football tournaments. These unique design shoes help players to keep a proper grip on the ground. As football is one of the oldest games played until now from the past, over time this footwear called cleats also change in style and designs accordingly. It was king Henry VIII who owned the very first pair of soccer cleats which were made by his shoemaker named Cornelis Johnson in 1525.

It was after this discovery that football gets popularity in England and thus soccer cleats. In the beginning, players use to wear regular shoes for playing football, but subsequently, they started wearing shoes which are of stiff leather, and they are more massive than the shoes they usually eat. One of the best characteristics of this shoe is that they have metal studs at the outer side soles, which help players to have a firm and strong grip on the ground during the playing games.

With time, these cleats got substantial modifications in the designs depending on the need for time.

• In The Early 1900s

During this era of time, love for soccer was consistent increases, and so the manufacturing of soccer shoes from around the globe also increases. The design of soccer cleats remains almost the same during this period, but the most substantial change that took place was the opening of the “Dassler Brother shoe factory” in 1924 that was owned by two German brothers. Soccer cleats made by these two brothers were having 6 -7 replaceable studs, made up of metal which is replaced according to the weather conditions. Some companies started during this era were:-

1) Gola

2) Valsport

3) Hummel

• The Evolution from the 1940s – 1960s

was a time when the world was moving towards peace after world war II. The players were moving from counties internationally for the sake of playing soccer matches.

During this period soccer gains significant popularity in the world which leads to the demand for soccer cleats. Different companies from the world manufacture soccer cleats to produce something more good and different from others in the market. So for that, they start manufacturing soccer cleats which were lighter in weight, rather than focusing on its trait of protection corporations were now focusing on producing shoes that are more comfortable and easy in use. It is also a time when two brothers Adolf and Rudolf, the founder of Dassler Brother Shoe Factory split themselves and open up their corporations know as Adidas and Puma respectively. With the help of technology material used for the manufacturing of soccer cleats become lighter, and studs were being replaced by plastic and rubber material instead of metal so to lessen the risk of injuries. ‘Super Atom’ cleats of Puma got popularity among people when Pele wore its cleats during the world cup of 1970. Most of the players also wear Addidas soccer cleats in international matches.

• The Evolution from the 1970s -1980s

With the passage of time, the manufacturing of soccer cleats becomes more prevalent as companies have their competitors in the market who are busy making cleats of the best quality and designs from each other. Brands approval and sponsorship were commonly adopted by various corporations; they are sponsoring different players for marketing purposes. Adidas was one of the best cleats sellers around 1979 who’s soccer cleats made with kangaroo leather.

• New Millennium

The advent of the new millennium brings new technology with it. Manufacturing of soccer cleats is improving day by day as more and more new companies were arising in the market with new ideas and designs for soccer cleats.

Competition in the market is very much high, and players have numerous options for cleats selected from the variety. Soccer cleats are also being manufacture in order where names and jersey numbers  printed over cleats.

• Intelligent cleats

In today’s world, where technology takes over every industry, soccer cleats were also appearing in the market. Soccer cleats which are manufacturing these days made up of lighter materials they are having small microchip attached inside them, which helps in tracking the performance of a player and also analysis weaker areas that need improvements.

Till now by analyzing the popularity of football and soccer cleats, to say this is not a wrong thing that in coming future soccer cleats manufacturing companies will have a much brighter future.