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The Boot Room

Adidas announce the return of iconic Predator boots, but they’re nothing like the originals

The Predator 18+ has been launched today and will cost you €300.

Preds down the years

THE ADIDAS PREDATOR was up there among the best football boots on the market for the guts of two decades.

There was something very iconic about the black shoe, three white stripes and the red tongue that evokes memories of greats like Zinedine Zidane, Alessandro Del Piero, Raul and David Beckham.

In May 2015, Adidas announced that the Predator range was be discontinued to make way for the brand’s new products.

“Things change,” Mike Fairhurst of Adidas told The42 later that year. “Predator is old and we’ve got new technologies now.”

Since then, there has been the re-release of Beckham’s Predator Mania boots on limited edition. But today,  the German company has confirmed their return with the launch of Predator 18+.

adidas Football / YouTube

“When designing the Predator 18+ we wanted to create the most innovative boot on the market while staying true to the very ethos of what made the Predator such an iconic boot, said Sam Handy, vice president of Design for Adidas Football.

“We wanted to create a boot for those players who control the game through a killer touch or defence-splitting pass.

“The new Predator will provide athletes such as Paul Pogba and Dele Alli with the tools they need to maximise their own creativity; such as the introduction of a CONTROL skin and a new hybrid stud configuration to support the dynamic movement required for professional athletes.”

The laceless boot is black, white, gold and red, with an updated Primeknit sockfit collar but, as you can see below, it looks nothing like the originals.

They will set you back a hefty €300, while the street trainer version costs €130 and they’re available exclusively to try on and buy at Lifestyle Sports from 29 November. For more information, visit @LifeStyleSportsFootball on Instagram.

LSS Predator Launch-190 Sportsbeat / Roberto Payne Sportsbeat / Roberto Payne / Roberto Payne

Go on then, give us your verdict…

The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):

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