The days of soccer boots being neglected as a factor in performance are far behind us, and instead there is now tremendous innovation into their technological improvement. The release of the new Adidas laceless ‘Ace 16+ purecontrol’ furthers this movement, aiming to provide improved comfort, stability and most notably control for players of all levels.
Instead of the traditional laces, the boots will use Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) to enclose the foot in the boot, with a ‘PrimeKnit’ upper section advertised to complement this, which also has the added benefit of zero ‘wear-in time’. Although the laceless element will be the main feature, no boot deterioration over time will certainly be another distinct selling-point. In addition, a ‘Non Stop Grip’ layer of raised dots on the upper will help to maintain ball control whilst dribbling, aided by a lightweight frame which provides improved stability when travelling at high speeds. In essence, the boots have been developed with the need for accurate passing, deft control and fast dribbling of creative midfielders in mind.
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Of these players, and as one of the current 2015-16 season’s outstanding performers with 16 assists in the Premier League already, Mesut Özil of Arsenal FC will be one of the notable stars wearing the new boots. Famed for his unerringly accurate passing and incredible ball control, Özil lauds the new developments as his ‘dream product’.
Özil does so white citing how they will change his pre-match ritual of tucking his laces into his boots, something he does to reduce interference with his touch. Another notable user will be Ivan Rakitic of FC Barcelona, who will similarly adopt the boots on January 23rd. The prospect of players of the calibre of Özil and Rakitic adding another weapon to their armory will undoubtedly be unnerving for defenders.
The way in which these boots will affect the upper tiers of the professional game remains to be seen. However, with a pricetag of $300, it is probable that the boots will be mainly utilised in professional and semi-professional games, with amateur players less likely to pay such a premium. Time will tell whether laceless boots become a widespread and crucial component for footballers in the future. Adidas is certainly betting on it.