Football soccer has evolved tremendously with advances in modern technology. The soccer ball, clothing and even the shoe have all been improved upon. Although Henry VIII is best known for being an accomplished military leader and Tudor king of England and Ireland, he was also a poet, musician, and an athlete during his prime. Cornelius Johnson, his personal shoemaker, designed the first known soccer cleat, which was listed in the King's Great Wardrobe in 1526.
1800s
The game of soccer remained largely an unorganized pastime until the 19th century. In England, local factory workers and villagers would play against each other; most of them would still wear their hard, leather work boots with metal studs or tacks hammered into them. As the sport's popularity grew, the game began to be organized and new rules governing player safety were created. One crucial change was the implementation of using cleats with rounded-end studs.
Puma / Adidas
In 1948, Rudolph Dassler founded a shoe company called Puma and developed its first soccer cleat known as the "Atom." His brother Adi decided to go into business as well and founded his own shoe company known as Adidas. Adidas released its first football cleat in 1949. Using their three-stripe trademark, this innovative shoe had adjustable, molded-rubber studs. In 1954, Adidas revolutionized the game, with the development of the first low-cut, lightweight football cleat with nylon screw-in studs.
Nike
In 1967, Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman incorporated a new athletic shoe company originally known as Blue Ribbon Sports. In 1971, with the help of their first employee, they designed their first soccer cleat, called"The Nike." Using a new name and a new logo, this innovative shoe company began implementing new technology in its shoe designs. In 2010, Nike's lightest soccer cleat, "Mercurial," featured pressure-activated studs that automatically adjusts stud length for maximal traction.
Lotto
An Italian manufacturer, Lotto Sport has been making athletic wear since 1973. Released in time for the World Cup in Germany 2006, it unveiled the first lace-less soccer cleat called "Zhero Gravity." Its 2010 model, "Zhero Gravity Ultra," features the first dynamic sole that moves in unison with the athlete's foot. This helps provide the player with superior cushioning and protection from the impact during running.
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