"The Nike" & Nike Striker - Nike's First-Ever Football Boots | Closer Look
Oct 16, 2018, by Chris
With international fixtures interrupting club football, it is relatively quite in terms of football boots and kits releases these days. We take the opportunity for a closer look at Nike's first steps in the world of football, including the Swoosh's first-ever soccer cleats (eh football boots...), called 'The Nike'.
'The Nike', 1971 - First Football Boot With A Swoosh
Nike's first-ever soccer cleat was released in 1971 and simply called 'The Nike'. 'The Nike' is not something Nike is particularly pride of today and is described by the company as follows.
"Nike began its football journey back in 1971 with the release of “The Nike” football boot, the first shoe to bear the Swoosh. It cost $16.95, didn’t hold up well in cold and wet weather and soon fell by the wayside as Nike focused on running, tennis and basketball footwear. But it was a start."
'The Nike' was not worn by any famous players.
Nike Striker Soccer Cleat, 1976
A few years after the original 'The Nike' football boot, Nike released the Nike Striker football boot. Launched in 1976 the UK only and made in Yougoslavia, the Nike Striker till featured the old Nike swoosh. As almost all football boots of that time and just as Nike's first-ever football boot, the Nike Striker featured an all black leather upper. The tongue comes with the orange Nike Swoosh, typical for Nike's 1970's release.
Nike's should remain an underdog in the world of football until the early 1990s. In the 1994 World Cup, eight of the 22 players wore Nike Tiempo Premier boots, and since then Nike has redefined the look of football boots again and again.
What do you think of Nike's first soccer cleats? Comment below.
Hamburg 26-27 Away Retro Collection Leaked
The new Hamburg 26-27 away retrocollection has been leaked, providing an early glimpse of the retro-inspired items set to be released for the club. The leak comes via @Bundesleaker, who shared mock-ups created using AI based on received information. According to the source, these designs are approximately 95% accurate to the final products.
The Hamburger SV 2026-27 OG collection brings back the classic Adidas Trefoil logo, combining it with traditional club colors and retro aesthetics. Based on the leaked information, the collection features classic apparel pieces that incorporate prominent blue, white, and black elements synonymous with the heritage of the German club.
Étoile du Sahel 2026-27 Home Kit Revealed
The new Étoile Sportive du Sahel home kit for the 2026-27 season has been officially revealed. Made by Umbro, the jersey will be worn in the upcoming Tunisian Ligue 1 campaign.
The Umbro Étoile Sportive du Sahel 2026-27 home jersey features the club's traditional red base complemented by white accents. Following the special centenary kit released by Umbro in the previous year, the new home shirt returns to a standard design for the Tunisian side, maintaining their classic red and white color scheme.
The Umbro Étoile du Sahel 2026-27 home shirt incorporates a clean look that highlights the traditional colors associated with the team. It continues the ongoing partnership between the Sousse-based club and the English sportswear brand into the new season.
Jude Bellingham Debuts Adidas Predator "Chaos vs Control" Boots Against Mexico
Jude Bellingham has been spotted wearing the Adidas Predator boots from the new Chaos vs Control pack. The Real Madrid midfielder debuted the colorway during a recent training session, providing a first on-pitch look at the design ahead of the 2026-27 season.Thanks to @marcadegol.
It was a dream debut for Bellingham, who scored a brilliant brace to lead England to a 2-0 victory over hosts Mexico, sending the Three Lions into the quarter-finals, where they will face Norway.
Eintracht Frankfurt 26-27 Away Kit + Adidas Originals Collection Leaked
The upcoming Eintracht Frankfurt Adidas Originals collection has been leaked online by Bundesliga kit specialist @Bundesleaker. The new images give us a comprehensive first look at the retro-inspired lifestyle range for the Bundesliga club, which prominently features the classic Adidas Trefoil logo.
The leaked collection includes a variety of apparel, highlighted by a long-sleeve retro jersey that is currently predicted to be 95 percent accurate to the final design. In addition to the clothing, the leak also showcases a first real picture of a special edition Eintracht Frankfurt Adidas Samba sneaker, confirming that footwear will be a key part of this release.
Embracing a clean aesthetic that heavily utilizes the club's traditional black and white colors, the range is designed for off-pitch wear. The Eintracht Frankfurt Adidas Originals collection is expected to be officially launched soon, joining the brand's growing lineup of retro club collections for the 2026-27 season.
Benfica 26-27 Away Kit Font Revealed
Following the official launch of the club's first-ever Adidas Originals game jersey, the bespoke lettering for the Benfica 2026-27 away kit has been revealed. The new font complements the predominantly white shirt and its distinctive central red heart graphic, which draws inspiration from the 'Papoilas Saltitantes' (jumping poppies) lyric in the club's anthem.
