From iconic boots to polarizing balls, these retro football classics are overdue for a comeback.
Retro inspiration is all the talk at the minute in football. We’ve got remakes of old classics coming out of our ears.
Nike just re-released a load of its iconic Premier League footballs as their time as provider to the league comes to an end. adidas has been churning out re-releases of the Predator and F50. Of course there’s also the endless kit remakes, as fans can’t seem to get enough of iconic looks from yesteryear.
It’s all going on in the football remake space, and if this is the way the game is going to continue then I’d love to see some others brought back and reintroduced. Here’s a list of a few that are well overdue.
Nike Magista Obra
The Nike Magista Obra was revolutionary, introducing the sock-like structure to a football boot. At the time, adidas had explored it, but it was the Nike Magista that truly locked that space down. The design of the boot was fantastic and, to me, stands the test of time. Nike has been looking further back with its latest remakes, returning to the T90 days of the early 2000s, and I totally get it. But it’s already been over a decade since the Obra’s release, and a return wouldn’t be too out of the question. Pure nostalgia for a certain generation of football fans, that’s for certain.
Nike Hypervenom
Another iconic boot of that era from the Swoosh: the Hypervenom Phantom I. This boot was the pinnacle of Nike’s Hypervenom range and the design was a great alternative to the Mercurial. Neymar was front and center of this boot, the perfect pairing for a disruptive challenge to the status quo. The design of the Hypervenom went downhill from its initial form, but this one would be an ideal re-release for the brand given it still fits into the modern day trends of boots and plays on nostalgia, still. For those who loved this era of Neymar, the Hypervenom would be welcomed back with open arms, and it looks like we might be getting just that.
adidas Jabulani
If we’re rereleasing footballs, this one has to come back soon. And not just to sell. To play with. Imagine bringing back the chaos of the 2010 World Cup with a ball that was confirmed as “too round” and led to some crazy goals. Get it back for a tournament soon, I say. It’s one of the most iconic balls of all time, regardless if you love it or hate it.
Nike Italy Tracksuit 1996
The Italian football federation has just moved to adidas, and hasn’t been with Nike since 1998, so this one returning is very unlikely for a while. While some of the Nike teams have reissued this template, none of them have hit the same level as Italy. This is probably one of the most iconic tracksuits of all time and to reissue it would be a great move, albeit logistically it seems impossible. If there was a way of doing so, it’d probably sell out instantly.
PUMA v1 Series
With the recent reissue of the Speedcat shoes hitting influencers’ Instagram feeds harder than a Steven Gerrard volley, PUMA could tap further into the bank of nostalgia by reissuing some of their older boots. Bring back the spider web-like design, bring the fold over tab across the laces. PUMA can’t really stand up against the likes of adidas and Nike overall, especially not in the iconic kits and boots department, but this would be a great move.
