Development of Soccer Cleats

The earliest soccer boots date to 1526 and England's King Henry VIII. The 2010 FIFA World Cup, beginning in South Africa in June, will showcase the world's best soccer, which according to Business Week is an industry valued at $10.9 billion. Nike recently debuted soccer cleats that retract according to the field conditions and the amount of pressure a player exerts. Over the years, soccer cleats have developed through a series of political, cultural and economic influences.

  1. Work Boots

    • In the 1800s, football was popular in Britain among the working class. Teams were comprised of local factories and villages, and players would wear their hard, steel-toed, leather, lace-up work boots. Players would sometimes hammer metal studs or tacks for increased grip and traction.

    Rounded Cleats

    • The late-1800s brought a more structured game of soccer, and work boots transformed into soccer shoes. Laws were incorporated into the game, requiring studs or tacks to be rounded. These rounded, leather studs were added to the bottom of the shoes for better grip in inclement weather.

    World War II

    • Soccer shoe styles changed after World War II, when cheaper air travel allowed people to travel internationally and watch soccer games from all over the world. Players from South American countries such as Brazil and Argentina had superior ball skills and control and wore lighter, more flexible shoes. Soccer players from around the world suddenly preferred shoes that would allow for this type of ball control over those built to protect their feet. Shoe manufacturers responded with lighter, more flexible soccer cleats.

    Enter Adidas

    • In 1949, Adi Dassler produced soccer shoes with molded, rubber studs. In 1954, Dassler created screw-in studs for the German players' shoes, and Germany won the FIFA World Cup. Dassler's brother and rival, Rudolf, founded Puma in 1948. He also claims to have produced the first screw-in studs. The low-cut soccer shoe design was introduced in the 1960s. The removal of the high-top, ankle piece allowed players to move even faster and control the ball even better. Adidas created the Copa Mundial made of butter-soft, kangaroo leather in 1979, which became the world's best-selling soccer cleat.

    The 1990s to Present

    • Adidas created its innovative Predator in 1994, which replaced traditional studs with a bladed, more stable design throughout the sole. Puma created a cleat with a foam-free midsole, and Adidas followed with another cleat that had wedge-shaped studs. Nike entered the soccer-shoe market during the 1994 FIFA World Cup and has dominated research and technology ever since. Soccer shoe brands Mizuno, Reebok and Uhlsport also developed their own cleats. Sticky, lace-less, and multi-colored cleats have all been developed. In 2010, Nike, Adidas, Puma and other brands continue to compete and search for new and improved technologies for soccer cleats.