A long term Adidas sponsorship deal has made David Beckham one of the major faces of Predator football boots. Beckham’s Predator boots have accompanied him throughout his career in England, Spain, the USA and Italy. His Predator soccer cleats, as LA Galaxy fans would call them, have been the subject of much attention both on and off the pitch.
A Brief History of Adidas Predator Football Boots
The original Predator football boot was invented by former professional footballer Craig Johnston. Johnston played for both Middlesborough FC and Liverpool FC in the 1970s and 1980s, his interest in design leading him on a quest to enhance the standard football boot.
Looking for a boot allowing greater control over the ball, Johnston added rubber patches covered with dimples to his prototype, increasing the overall surface area of the boot. This allowed for greater friction and in turn greater ball control whilst enabling the wearer to impart more swerve on the football.
Despite struggling at first to find a company willing to invest in his idea, Adidas eventually took the plunge and in so doing secured themselves what was to be the best-selling Predator football boots range.
The David Beckham Adidas Sponsorship Deal & Beckham Predator Football Boots
The launch and rapid popularity of Adidas Predator football boots (soccer cleats) went hand in hand with Adidas sponsorship deals and marketing campaigns. Soon soccer players such as David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Steven Gerrard and Michael Ballack were wearing Predator football boots. The Adidas Predator Powerswerve Special was later developed for rugby players, English rugby player Jonny Wilkinson being the most notable wearer.
New David Beckham boots are often the subject of media attention. New Predator soccer cleat models are normally released every two years, coinciding with EURO and World Cup competitions. In 2005 new Predator boots were released as part of Beckham’s exclusive product range. The David Beckham PredatorPulse boots, featuring Beckham’s personal Adidas logo, retailed on release at €185.
Each publicly available model is customized especially for the famous faces sponsored by Adidas, the boots adorned with personalized details making for great media coverage.
While on loan to AC Milan in 2008, Beckham was presented with his new Predator Powerswerve DB boots.
Incorporating the English and Italian flags on the left and right boot heels respectively, they also were adorned with Beckham’s Milan squad number and club crest, his initials, a ‘V’ for his wife Victoria and his children’s names.
Charity and Scandal Hot on the Heels of the David Beckham Predator Football Boots
The life of David Beckham has forever been filled with both controversy and praise. The same can be said about Beckham’s boots.
In 2005, a pair of David Beckham’s personal PredatorPulse football boots were bought by Norwegian billionaire Idar Vollvik for $148,000 (£85,600). Having been previously donated to charity, Beckham’s Predator boots were snapped up by Vollvik with all the money going to help victims of the Pakistan earthquake. The same boots had also helped raise money for the victims of the Asian Tsunami.
David Beckham football boots have also courted controversy. In 2003, animal rights group VIVA (Vegetarians International Voice for Animals) began a campaign against the Adidas Predator football boots. Their complaint was the use of kangaroo leather in the production of Predator boots. Beckham was targeted as one of the main faces behind Predator and Adidas. In 2006 VIVA claimed that David Beckham had switched to using synthetic materials, much to the delight of the animal rights group.
New David Beckham Shoes – Predator X Soccer Cleats
The David Beckham Adidas sponsorship deal continues to this day. Beckham was last seen on the pitch wearing the new Predator X – with a few custom touches, of course. A new pair of David Beckham Predator boots would have graced the South Africa 2010 World Cup, but an injury ruled him out of the tournament.
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Tony Dunnell - Tony Dunnell is a freelance writer and a specialist in South American travel. He has two Peru blogs, howtoperu.com and tarapotolife.com
