As a three time Ballon d'Or winner, Dutch legend Johan Cruyff is as globally recognised in football as Lionel Messi, but the lesser known 'Cruyff Sports' brand may be unfamiliar to a number of you. While we've seen recently established brands such as 'Pele Sports' flag their royalty-rich name to kick-start a new venture into the football market, 'Cruyff Sports' certainly carries more weight.
Throughout the eighties the Cruyff Sports brand became a regular feature on a variety of sports pitches, after Cruyff decided to develop his own sports brand. With products designed for the technical player, the classically developed boots would later go on to be worn by Dutch legends Marco Van Basten and Dennis Bergkamp who played a number of their greatest games in Cruyffs. Now the Cruyff Sports Match returns to the football field.
With a vision to create elegant footwear perfectly designed for the technical player, in 1979 Johan Cruyff established a brand bearing his name. Now more than three decades later, the classic Cruyff Match returns in the same elegant style. Cruyff Sports are again setting out to create football boots that embody Cruyff's philosophy towards the game.
We wouldn’t expect Cruyff Sports to bring anything new to the table, but instead stick to the tried and tested methods of the eighties. The Cruyff Match is an authentic football boot with a functional focus on a combined Italian calf and kangaroo leather upper. By seamlessly blending the two from heel to forefoot, the boots offer a stable and protective fit with optimal ball touch and feel.
The Cruyff Sports branding has been given a slight re-work since its early days, where each boot featured the recognisable 'C-Flash' on each side of the boot. With one of history’s all time great football players at the helm, the boots are now given a special Dutch seal of approval with Johan Cruyff's signature stitched onto the outside of the boot.
Solidly crafted and produced in Italy, the Cruyff Sports Match continues to keep the classic design of football boots alive. A special breathable nylon that lines each boot allows heat and moisture to be wicked away from the foot whilst playing. The sole-plate is constructed in a way to improve comfort and reduce stud pressure with added support applied in high impact areas.
With a functional and stylish design true to Dutch legend, the Cruyff Match football boots epitomise the style and elegance inherent in the Cruyff Sports brand. Available to order now, these premium soccer shoes will retail for around £115.00 GBP / £140.00 USD / €130.00 EURO, putting them in line with similar old-school designs.
Whether you're old enough to remember the playing days of Johan Cruyff or not, let us know what you think of the new Cruyff Match football boots! Are you a fan of no-thrills, classic boot design? Join the conversation and share your thoughts online, on Twitter and on Facebook.