The silhouette of the football boots that we see today was not the same since its inception. It has evolved and improved over time with the help of research work and technological developments. Let’s find out more.

Footballers used to play without shoes before 1891. In some parts of the world, only socks were worn. But in some regions, people used to wear office shoes. These shoes had rock solid toes and were sometimes made of steel.

These shoes were never designed to kick a ball, but people used to wear them due to the unavailability of any other option. The passion for soccer was so high that despite being injured by wearing these shoes, they did not stop playing. There was no grip on the soles of these shoes as slipping on the grass was very common.

In 1891, national soccer bodies sensed that deficiency and an amendment was made to soccer regulations that allowed players to wear shoes that had small cleats or something that could help players keep their grip on the ground.

This laid a cornerstone for soccer shoes and many shoe manufacturers went ahead to meet this specific demand. Italy, Uruguay and France were the pioneer countries of this advance.

In the early decades of the 1900s, the demand for soccer shoes dropped dramatically due to the aftermath of the World War. After the Second World War, the interest in sports took flight, and the demand for sports shoes witnessed an extraordinary increase. During this period, immense research and technology work was carried out.

As a result, lighter and more flexible soccer shoes emerged. These shoes became more popular in southern Europe and America because the surfaces were less muddy compared to England where there were surfaces covered in mud.

After 1950, the improved quality of football boots was introduced. The selling point of these shoes were metal studs or molded in plastic. These cleats allowed footballers to play comfortably in different conditions around the world and were used extensively in professional soccer.

In 1970, the evolution of shoes reached its peak. Soccer shoes became even lighter. Bold colors were used and various designers went ahead to print graphics and designs on them. Research and experimentation reached a new milestone when “Predator” was introduced from a well-known company. This became a new sensation due to the rubber straps and the stronger material toe cap design.

Shortly after this development, many professional footballers were offered to endorse different brands of soccer shoes. Announcements were made and the marketing of soccer shoes started. In the late 90s, the soles were even made flexible, offering footballers comfort and allowing them to play more games comfortably.

In short, this was the history of soccer shoes. The latest development in this regard can be witnessed these days in the form of laser technology. This technology will allow you to sew a custom pair of shoes to your exact size and style of play. Not only that, tacos these days look like blades. Some soccer shoemakers have also introduced microchip technology that helps track these shoes; however, they are rarely used.