Alessia Russo, Jude Bellingham, and Trent Alexander-Arnold all contributed to the design of the most recent iteration of the renowned Adidas Predator boot.
As per Mahsa Aryan, the category director for football footwear at Adidas, the newest design’s “DNA” is significantly influenced by the legacies of David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane, who played a pivotal role in popularizing the boot during the 1990s and 2000s.
Throughout his meteoric ascent to superstardom at Real Madrid, Bellingham has been donning Predators, whereas Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold joined Adidas’ roster of athletes late last year.
The design of the Predator 24 was influenced by both England internationals, and Russo, an England and Arsenal women’s star, provided her input during what Aryan termed a “super close” working relationship.
Aryan stated to Stats Perform, “I believe our success over the years has been due to our unwavering loyalty to our professional players.”
“They have an obviously different level of comprehension regarding the evolving nature of the game and the corresponding demands that arise from that evolution. As a consequence, we maintain strong relationships with our clubs and key players to ensure that we are consistently discussing strategies that are successful and those that are not.”
“Particularly enjoyable about the Predator 24 is that we have had a great deal of dialogue throughout its development, from its inception to the final approval that we received on the boots.”
“We have had constant conversations with Jude, with the likes of Russo as well, so also the women’s game [is] definitely just as important, and with Trent, obviously, he is a new key face who we are super excited to have and super excited that he wants to be such a key part of our launch of Predator.”
Nevertheless, Aryan emphasized Adidas’s strong desire to maintain ties to the past, citing Zidane as a vital figure in that regard.
“But we have also maintained and stayed connected to our previous icons,” she continued: “Therefore, I had the pleasure of having a lengthy conversation with Zidane about the Predator 24 and its future, and gleaning a great deal of his insight, not only from the standpoint of an iconic player from the past, but also regarding how he currently perceives the game.”
“In the late 1990s and early 2000s, there were a significant number of disruptive actors in the football footwear industry, and it was clear that this marked the transition from the previous football style to the new one.
“It was comparable to the previous generation, when football was preoccupied with power and specific set pieces, but it has since evolved into something considerably more dynamic.” “I believe those personalities have played a significant role in shaping the Predator’s identity, as well as its DNA, which undoubtedly originates from the Zidanes and Beckhams of the world.”
Undoubtedly, the Predators have contributed to Bellingham’s success at Madrid this season. A extraordinary seventeen goals have been scored by the midfielder in just twenty-four appearances across all competitions; he has also provided six assists. In contrast, eight goals have been created for Liverpool through the precision deliveries of Alexander-Arnold.