Cowboys Kicker Wins Game in 2008 Nike Mercurial Vapor Boots
Dec 9, 2015, by Pat
Just a few seconds were left on the clock in the tied game, and Dan Bailey of the Dallas Cowboys had the chance to once again prove he's the best kicker in NFL history. Having scored 25 of 26 field goals in 2015, Bailey drilled it in from 54 yards to win the game against Washington and retain a slim hope to still reach the play-offs.
But it wasn't only his impeccable kicking that caught the attention of many spectators, including Footy Headlines follower Martin. Many people, especially those familiar with soccer boots, were surprised by his unusual choice of footwear.
Dan Bailey's Mercurial Vapor IV Boots
Bailey laced up in 2008 Nike Mercurial Vapor IV cleats, opting for the white and blue colorway to match the Cowboys uniform. Headlined by Cristiano Ronaldo, the Nike Mercurial Vapor IV was first launched in February 2008 and introduced a new concept for Nike's speed silo.
For the first time, Nike added a stitched lace cover, designed to offer a cleaner ball contact area, both for dribbling at high speed and for striking the ball. Other than that, it featured a typical Mercurial speed sole plate, complete with a heightened heel counter for added protection.
The concept of the lace cover was carried over for the next two Nike Mercurial Vapor generations, before it was dropped for good with the release of the Nike Mercurial Vapor VII in 2011.
To be honest, a bit more boot-diversity on European football turfs wouldn't hurt. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
If you spot an unusual or interesting boot choice, feel free to let us know via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or send us an email if you'd like to be featured in the Footy Headlines Boot Watch.
Crawley Town 26-27 Home Kit Released
Erreà and Crawley Town have officially revealed the club's new home kit for the 26-27 season. Inspired by the team's Red Devils nickname, the primary red jersey features a dynamic subtle flame pattern across the body, complemented by contrasting white trim on the collar and sleeve cuffs. The inner collar is inscribed with the club's Latin motto Noli Cedere, while white Erreà branding and main sponsor uptime complete the look.
Southend United 26-27 Anniversary Kit Released
Italian brand Erreà and Southend United have revealed the club's special 26-27 anniversary kit, marking 120 years since the Blues were established in 1906. Presented in black with white collar details and trim, the standout feature of the shirt is a tonal front pattern formed by the names of every player to represent Southend United between 1906 and 2026.
Swansea City 26-27 Home Kit Released
Swansea City and Joma have officially launched the club's new home kit for the 26-27 Championship season. The new design reintroduces copper detailing to the home strip for the first time in over a decade, paying homage to the city's rich industrial heritage.
Built on a traditional white base, the jersey features elegant copper and black vertical pinstripes across the front. Copper trim extends to the V-neck collar and sleeve cuffs, creating a stylish contrast alongside the black Joma logo and monochrome club crest.
The 26-27 home kit also debuts new front-of-shirt sponsor AG1, with ASI:One appearing on the sleeve. White shorts and white socks with matching copper trim complete the complete home kit.
Jagiellonia Białystok 26-27 Away & Third Kits Released
Polish Ekstraklasa club Jagiellonia Białystok and technical supplier Macron have officially launched the club's new away and third kits for the 26-27 season. Designed in collaboration with kit creator w_kitz, both jerseys celebrate local heritage and regional identity.
The Jagiellonia Białystok 26-27 away kit comes in an off-white colorway paired with deep burgundy trim. Drawing inspiration from the traditions of the historical Jagiellon dynasty, the jersey features a classic polo collar with button detailing, subtle tonal jacquard elements, and monochrome burgundy logos alongside the club crest.
Completing the lineup, the 26-27 third kit introduces a rich red and maroon palette highlighted by an intricate repeating mosaic pattern across the front and sleeves. This ornamental design pays tribute to the regional culture of Podlasie. White branding and trim provide clear contrast against the patterned base, giving the kit a distinctive look on the pitch.
Grenoble Foot 38 26-27 Home Kit Released
French Ligue 2 club Grenoble Foot 38 and Nike have officially revealed the club's new home jersey for the 26-27 season.
The Nike GF38 26-27 home shirt features a half-and-half design split between bright royal blue and dark navy. The split extends across the front and alternating sleeves, while a subtle tonal chevron graphic runs across the front body. Clean white details feature on the V-neck collar, sleeve cuffs, Nike Swoosh, and Carrefour front shirt logo.
Adding a touch of local identity, the quarterly coat of arms of the historical Dauphiné region is placed on the upper back just below the collar. The new kit is now available through the club's official boutique.
Atlético Madrid Launch Special Over the Pitch Nameset
Atlético Madrid have teamed up with South Korean football culture studio Over the Pitch to reveal a special custom nameset collaboration. Building on their established partnership through the Atleti Creators Club, the new release introduces custom typography and back-of-shirt graphics rooted in traditional Korean heritage.
The standout element of the design is a detailed Korean tiger illustration cascading down the center of the shirt number. Accompanying the numbers, the player names feature artistic Korean-style lettering.
The special font is showcased on both Atlético's 26-27 red-and-white home kit and dark away shirt in a photoshoot set within a traditional Korean interior.
