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.

Soccer players 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 options. The passion for soccer was so high that despite getting injured from wearing these shoes, they did not stop playing. There was no grip on the soles of these shoes, so slipping on the grass was very common.

In 1891, the national football bodies felt there was a deficiency and an amendment was made in the rules of football 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 shoemakers stepped up to meet this specific demand. Italy, Uruguay and France were the pioneer countries of this advance.

In the first decades of the 20th century, the demand for soccer shoes fell drastically due to the aftermath of the World War. After World War II, the interest in playing sports took off and the demand for sports shoes experienced an extraordinary increase. An immense technological and research work was carried out during this period.

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 muddy surfaces.

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

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

Shortly after this development, many professional soccer players were offered to promote different brands of soccer shoes. Advertisements were made and the marketing of soccer shoes began. In the late 1990s, even flexible soles were made that offered comfort to soccer players allowing them to play matches more 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 based on your exact size and style of play. Not only that, studs these days look like blades. Some soccer shoemakers have also introduced microchip technology that helps track these shoes; however, they are rarely used.