Happy Birthday, Ilkay - Gündogan's Boot History
Oct 24, 2016, by Pat
Manchester City and Germany midfielder Ilkay Gündogan celebrates his 26th birthday today. Before joining Manchester City this summer, Gündogan played for Nürnberg and Dortmund in the German Bundesliga. Let's take look at the football boots he's worn during his eight career years so far.
First Nike contract
Starting out at Nürnberg in 2009, Gündogan used to wear contemporary Adidas 11pro cleats. A great fit for the creative midfielder he is, he continued wearing the heritage boots in a number colorways before being snapped up by Nike just after transferring to Dortmund in 2011.
Gündogan's time with Nike started with the CTR360 Maestri II. He should go on to wear the CTR360 Maestri II and the succeeding third gen all the way up into the 2013-14 season, before moving on to the Magista Obra in 2014.
Switch back to Adidas
Skip to early 2015 and Gündogan stopped to wear the latest Nike Magista colorways. Instead, the German international started to black out his Nike soccer boots, hinting at a switch away from the brand. Just a couple of months later, this switch would be confirmed.
Switching to Adidas' F50 adizero 2015 edition, Gündogan sealed his move back to the three-stripe brand. He stayed with Adidas since, first wearing the aforementioned F50s, changing to the X15.1 in 2015 and, most recently, switching to the Ace 16.1 Primeknit in early 2016.
Did you know all of this? Let us know in the comments below.
Wydad AC 26-27 Home Kit Released
Moroccan giants Wydad Athletic Club have officially unveiled their new home kit for the 26-27 season, created in collaboration with Italian sportswear brand Kappa. Launched under the banner "THIS IS WYDAD," the shirt highlights the club's deep-rooted identity with a classic, retro-inspired aesthetic.
The Kappa Wydad 26-27 home jersey is predominantly red and accented with crisp white detailing. Its focal points include a striking red-and-white striped V-neck collar and matching trim along the cuffs. A subtle, tonal geometric pattern consisting of dynamic diagonal stripes runs across the torso, while white Kappa Omini logos sit across the chest and shoulders alongside the iconic circular Wydad AC crest.
The new Wydad 26-27 home shirt is already available for supporters to purchase through the club's official retail channels.
Albacete Balompié 26-27 Third Kit Released & Debuted
Spanish club Albacete Balompié has officially unveiled and debuted its new adidas third kit for the 26-27 season. The new strip received an immediate on-pitch premiere during the team's La Liga Hypermotion clash away to Girona at Montilivi, completing the club's 26-27 wardrobe following the release of their white home and away shirts earlier in the summer.
Created through the adidas Locker Room platform, the Albacete 26-27 third shirt features a black base overlaid with an energetic red geometric gradient pattern across the front. Striking bright orange accents add pop to the crew-neck collar and shoulder Three Stripes. The club crest is executed in a monochrome orange finish on the left chest to match the adidas performance logo and sponsor graphics.
Matching black shorts and socks, both trimmed with bright orange detailing, complete the full Albacete Balompié 26-27 third strip. What do you think of Albacete's new third kit?
CD Guadalajara 26-27 Away Kit Released
Spanish side CD Guadalajara has unveiled its new away kit for the 26-27 season. Produced once again by Kappa, the new release offers a sharp, colorful alternative that directly complements the club's primary identity.
The Kappa CD Guadalajara 26-27 away shirt is predominantly bright yellow, paired with bold purple accents honoring the club's signature morado shade. Purple covers the rounded crew collar, sleeve trim, and sponsor branding, including the Hercesa chest sponsor. Kappa's iconic Omini logos run in purple along the shoulders and right chest, while matching yellow shorts with purple hems and side logo tracks complete the full kit.
This away strip follows the launch of Guadalajara's 26-27 home shirt earlier in September, which brought a classic all-purple foundation detailed with crisp white piping and logos.
Wydad 26-27 Home Kit Released
Moroccan giants Wydad Athletic Club and Kappa have officially unveiled their new home kit for the 26-27 season. Built around the club's traditional red base, the shirt features subtle tonal geometric striping across the front panel for a clean and textured appearance. A retro-inspired red and white striped V-neck collar anchors the classic design, complemented by contrasting white Kappa Omini logos on the chest and shoulders alongside a monochrome white club crest.
Albacete Balompié 26-27 Third Kit Released & Debuted
Spanish club Albacete Balompié debuted their new adidas third kit for the 26-27 season during their La Liga 2 fixture against Girona at Montilivi. The Adidas Locker Room shirt features a black base adorned with a red geometric gradient stripe pattern across the front, highlighted by vibrant orange accents on the crew collar, the adidas Three Stripes running down the shoulders, and a monochrome orange edition of the club crest. Completed with matching black shorts and socks featuring orange detailing, the kit joins the club's traditional white home and away strips for the ongoing campaign.
Atalanta 26-27 Third Kit Released
Atalanta and New Balance have officially unveiled the club's new third kit for the 26-27 season. Completing the Italian side's set alongside the previously launched home and away strips, the jersey introduces an elegant aesthetic rooted in the architectural heritage of Bergamo.
The New Balance Atalanta 26-27 third shirt is finished in a warm beige base officially dubbed 'Toasted Sesame', accented by black and 'Taffy Blue' trim on the V-neck collar and sleeve cuffs. Subtly woven across the body is a geometric jacquard pattern inspired by the famous sundial of Bergamo's Palazzo della Ragione. The chest prominently features Atalanta's retro 1964 crest, which depicts the running goddess alongside traditional black and blue stripes.
The New Balance branding appears in black, while Lete's red logo and SNAIFUN complete the front sponsorship. Inside the collar, a bespoke graphic highlights the Bergamo skyline accompanied by the motto 'LA MAGLIA SUDATA SEMPRE'. Crafted with breathable NB DRYx technology, the new kit is available now via the club's official channels.
Thailand Forced to Change Kits at 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup
According to Ball Stand Thailand, the Thailand national team and Warrix must modify their kits for the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup, as the current uniform violates FIFA regulations.
Laws 4 of the IFAB players' equipment prohibits any political, religious, or personal slogans, statements, or images on match shirt.
Thailand’s 2026–27 kits by Warrix feature an pattern of the national anthem lyrics. Although national anthem lyrics are not explicitly classified as prohibited text, incorporating a full sentence from the anthem or extracts with ideological undertones onto the kit is still considered a violation of slogan regulations.
