In today’s climate of knit and synthetics, Puma is figuring out the best way to pay tribute to the name. Maybe its ostensible ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ model has grown somewhat stale in a market much more crowded than it ever was in the 1970s and ’80s. Of the ubiquitous ingredients constituting any quintessential Sunday morning scrap, there is one brand of football boot that, for many, encapsulates the endearing madness better than any other: the PUMA King. saw the return of the KING and to give it the launch it deserved Puma teamed up with Thierry Henry. The Frenchman helped with the design of the boot, which featured an inbuilt knitted tongue for increased comfort and 3D Touch texture for improved control. It was also a lot lighter than its predecessor. The boot weighed 275g for a US9, slightly heavier than the average boot on the market. However, it felt heavier on feet and I believe it’s due to its soleplate.

From day one Puma have always looked to innovate their products. It started with the Super Atom and continued with the KING. Earlier models of the silhouette featured Puma’s vulcanization process. Introduced in 1960, the process was a revolutionary way of joining the soles to the uppers. Ten years later, Puma introduced another key feature, their very own S.P.A. technology. This consisted of a higher heel to reduce stress on the Achilles tendon. I’m surprised they didn’t reuse the soleplate from previous Puma Future or Puma One models which, while not spectacular, did a solid job in providing manoeuvrability and a natural, comfortable flex. A King that needs to change with the times Ahead of the King’s launch in 1968 Puma had already enjoyed great success with the Super Atom boot launched some 16 years prior. The boot’s revolutionary design was the first to feature screw-in studs. It was the start of a long-lasting relationship between Puma and football, and that relationship was taken to new heights with the KING. Pele and the KING (1970) With its dark leather, workman-like aesthetic, wrap-around laces, and large white tongue flapping rather unceremoniously mid-sprint, the PUMA King is a boot that, in the modern era at least, has come to represent a certain type of player.

#WFEye – Images from around the world of football

So, how is it that, in just a few decades, the PUMA King has gone from halting contract negotiations and housing the twinkle toes of some of the most technically gifted footballers the planet has ever seen, to become almost entirely synonymous with the inelegant centre-half? Both are complex questions, of course, with answers that cannot so readily be nailed down. Economics, politics, marketing and, of course, the corporate behemoths that have come to govern and define the modern game all now play a fundamental role in determining what a player decides to wear on his or her feet. This was supposed to challenge the likes of the popular Nike Premier 2.0, a budget leather boot inspired by a prestigious older model. The “heritage” line, as some would call it. The excellent Puma King Classic Di, meant to be their premium leather boot was discontinued and in its place, the Puma King Top was released as budget option for the weekend warrior.

And perhaps it is this perception of the PUMA King, borne out of a seemingly romantic sense of nostalgia — during today’s era of constant change and ever-increasing flamboyance — that lends itself perfectly to being the natural accompaniment to the type of player it is now associated with. Loyal, dependable, unglamorous.While Bayern agreed to Matthaeus’ footwear demands, his national team – also sponsored by Adidas – were less accommodating. Numerous times the midfielder was handed fines for refusing to wear the three stripes. But he didn’t care. He was Puma through and through, and his passion for the brand started at an early age. Growing up in Herzogenaurach, his father worked at Puma’s original headquarters as a facility manager, so when Lothar was deciding what boots to wear, it was a no brainer.

The Puma King is one of most legendary football boots to have ever been made. Worn by luminaries such as Eusebio, Pele, Diego Maradona and Johan Cruyff (just to name a few), it was a no frills boot that was popular in the 60s right into the 90s for its performance and soft leather upper. One need only watch Pelé and Brazil’s mesmeric World Cup triumph of 1970, or Asif Kapadia’s recent Diego Maradona documentary to be reminded, not merely of the undeniable genius possessed by both men on the pitch and the very different personal lives that distinguish them off it, but, more simply, of what tangibly links them: what they wore on their feet. Similarly, a 2019 article in the Evening Standard headlined ‘Best football boots: Nike, Adidas and top UK brands for men’ mused at length over a number of boots by the titular big-hitters, and also those by Umbro and relative new boys on the soccer scene New Balance. Nowhere did it even mention PUMA. Step onto the field with the confidence of a true leader. Conquer every match, control every play, and leave your mark with the PUMA King Football Boots. Your reign starts here, now, and on every ground you play.

Today, King has been re-imagined. With state-of-the-art materials and upgrades to maximise performance and comfort, King meets the demands of the modern game while staying true to the iconic design. It’s a question that seems at once entirely trivial and greatly intriguing when one considers the kind of glittering legacy such a boot has behind it. One such way has been the Puma King Platinum, which shares the “King” moniker but seems more like an experiment to gauge customers’ sentiments about a thin, speedy leather boot. As of writing, Puma has also launched a new version of the Puma King Platinum, the Platinum 21, which positions it more as a simple leather boot for comfort. We’ve yet to review the boot nor ascertain whether this is another experiment or a fully dedicated new line in the Puma lineup. A silent passing of the boot baton that has manifested at all levels — from the elite echelons of the Premier League right down to the grassroots game and the aforementioned Sunday morning battles in the parks and hardly-fit-for-cattle fields of Blighty. In 1984 Bayern Munich wanted to sign one of Germany’s hottest talents, Lothar Matthaeus. The midfielder, who went on to make 150 appearances for his national side, was keen to sign for the National Cup winners providing he could wear his beloved Puma KINGS rather than boots provided by the club’s technical supplier, Adidas.