Slip on adidas’ New Predator Mania & Become Zidane
It’s May 15, 2002, and approximately 8:30pm. The setting? Glasgow’s Hampden Park, and eight-time European champions Real Madrid are drawing 1-1 with Bundesliga’s Bayer Leverkusen in that season's Champions League Final after taking an early lead.
On the stroke of half-time, Brazilian left-back Roberto Carlos flies down the left and hooks a cross into the path of maestro Zinedine Zidane, who fires a left-footed volley into the top corner of Hans-Jörg Butt’s net to not only secure the Spanish side’s ninth European title, but score what’s still considered one of the competition’s greatest ever goals.
Growing up, Zidane was a poster boy. A World Cup winner playing at the heart of arguably two of the best teams of that generation in Real Madrid and France.
It was hard not to be in awe. And while his Friar Tuck-like barnet may not have been something of particular envy (sorry, it’s true), getting the same boots as the three-time FIFA World Player of the Year and Ballon d'Or winner wore certainly was.
Luckily, thanks to adidas, 20 years on you finally can. The sportswear giant is re-releasing 2002 pairs of Predator Mania shoes identical to the pair that Zidane wore that fated night, complete with the classic red and black colorway.
From the external heel counter and K-leather, to the trademark forefoot pads and original detailing on the tongue and forefront, the 2022 Predator is a bonafide doppelganger of the famous Zizou boot.
Set to launch online July 10, the adidas Predator Mania will retail for £300 and while they may not make you play like one of the greatest footballers of all-time, they’ll look the part at least.
