Football News : Interviews, Jan11

Andrés Iniesta Interview

Soccer_Boots — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 11:28:00 GMT

SoccerBible were lucky enough to recently catch up with one of the biggest names in world football - Andrés Iniesta. The midfield maestro was more than happy to talk about everything from the World Cup to the current Barcelona squad. Thanks to his defining goal in the final of the World Cup against Holland, the Barca man is now a national hero who continues to be one of the key figures in the greatest club side on the planet! ...(read more)

Gareth Bale Interview

Soccer_Boots — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 15:42:00 GMT

Tweet

He's enjoying one of his most prolific seasons so far in the English Premier League and is being likened to some of the biggest names in world football. Gareth Bale has emerged as one of the most dangerous attacking players in the game over the past year with his explosive pace and acceleration. Now, with the new adizero Prime football boots, Bale has a lighter weapon of choice on his feet!

SoccerBible recently caught up with the Welsh and Tottenham Hotspur star to see what he thought of his new boots. With his profile recently being elevated to new heights, Bale is now one of the main players adidas are using to partner their new F50 adizero Prime boots with. His blistering pace goes hand-in-hand with what the new adizero football boots are all about. Check out what he had to say when he spoke exclusively to SoccerBible.

SB: What were your thoughts when you first saw and tried on the adidas F50 adizero football boots?

GB: I loved them, really liked the colours and just wanted to use them really. The newest versions feel super light so help me be faster on the pitch. Speed is a massive part of my game so I’m really pleased with them.

SB: Are we right in thinking you’ve worn F50 football boots throughout your career, if so what makes the range so outstanding for you?

GB: I’ve always liked adidas boots in general. I remember watching Beckham knocking in free kicks in them when I was growing up. The F50’s have always been pretty lightweight which I think suits my game.

SB: What do you think of the new warning and black colourway, and what’s your favourite F50 colourway?

GB: The F50 colours in the last year have been so different from anything I’ve seen before and I think the orange and black really stand out. Favourite colourway is quite tricky! adidas give me new colours quite regularly but I think the Chameleon F50s stand out in my mind.

SB: How important is an extremely lightweight football boot in today’s game?

GB: It’s no secret that the pace of the Premier League is rapid today so obviously lighter boots help players move more quickly.

This league can be really physical as well so anything that can help you evade the challenges is a bonus! I find that light boots also help you with shifting the ball out of your feet when running which helps with taking on defenders.

SB: Would you say as the F50 boots have evolved your game has been enhanced?

GB: I’m still young so I’m hoping that my game still has some way to go.

The F50’s have always suited my game and the standard of player is so high at this level that being confident in your boots is a great help.

SB: Do you have your boots modified in any way, custom sole-plate etc.?

GB: On past versions I’ve had the Welsh flag and my initials but I think the new F50 looks really great as a clean boot.

SB: What’s the favourite goal you’ve scored?

GB: The goal I scored against Stoke on the volley early this season was really enjoyable, it gave me a lot of confidence.

You know you’ve scored a good goal when they keep replaying it on the TV!

SB: The assist you’re most pleased with?

GB: When we beat Arsenal at the Emirates I was involved in some of the goals which was a really special moment. Then at White Hart Lane when we played Inter Milan, it was great to have a hand in such a big win for the club. We have a fantastic squad and it’s great to play with so many top class footballers.

SB: Who would win in a race between you and Aaron Lennon?

GB: Good question! Aaron is extremely quick so he might just edge it but I think it would be close!

SB: Which sportsman was your idol when you were growing up?

GB: Ryan Giggs. He is a fantastic professional and someone who I have always looked up to.

I'd have chosen him as my ideal team-mate but we play the same position so he'd probably keep me out of the team!

SB: In your opinion, who is currently the best footballer in the world?

GB: I don’t think you can look past Lionel Messi, he’s out of this world. His ability with the ball at his feet is brilliant to watch.

SB: What would you say is your career highlight?

GB: Becoming a first team regular at Spurs has been amazing for me.

I had quite a bad injury soon after I joined the club which kept me on the sidelines for a long time.

When I came back I had to try and adapt to the pace of the Premier League.

It meant a lot of hard work on the training pitch to get to a point where I got my chance and I’m thankful that things are going well and I’m really enjoying my football. The club are in a great position and I hope we can keep pushing up the table and onwards in the Champions League.

SB: Do you have a boot collection at home, have you kept any memorable pairs from special games?

GB: To be honest I don’t have a collection at the moment but I am starting to try and build one. I’ve been lucky enough to be involved in some really special games with Spurs and so I’m going to start to keep certain pairs.

SB: If you could pick any player as a dream teammate, from the past or currently playing, who would it be?

GB: Zidane.

SB: Finally, what’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given in your career?

GB: Never give up, work hard and always strive to succeed.

You can check out our exclusive images and SoccerBible review of Bale's new adidas F50 adizero Prime football boots right here.

Dempsey & Dikgacoi Interviews - The Chance

Editor — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 09:06:00 GMT

After meeting the likes of Wenger, Hiddink, Bendtner, Arshavin, Wilshere and Gibbs at 'The Chance' Finals, the SoccerBible's coverage continues as we caught up with Fulham stars Clint Dempsey and Kagisho Dikgacoi......(read more)

Bendtner & Gibbs Interviews - The Chance

Editor — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Nicklas Bendtner and Kieran Gibbs passed on their advice to young footballers taking part in Nike’s ‘The Chance’, whilst doing so, the Premier League stars also had time to give exclusive interviews to the SoccerBible!...(read more)

Florent Malouda Interview

Soccer_Boots — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:24:00 GMT

Tweet

We caught up with Chelsea's Florent Malouda at the recent Nike launch event for the new France International kit. Malouda is one of the main players behind the new Nike FFF campaign and we asked him what his thoughts were on the new jersey...

SB: What do you think of the new French football shirt?

FM: I'm very proud of this new shirt, it's very different from the one before, first it looks good but most importantly you feel comfortable when you play. I've tried it many times and you feel very comfortable.

SB: Do you think the shirt will mark a new era in French football?

FM: I hope we get a lot of success with this shirt and I appreciate the support Nike show to our federation because we were in trouble at the last world cup and to have this kind of support is really good so we hope that we get the results that go with the shirt.

SB: And you like the Nike products, you wear the football boots as well?

FM: Yeah I've been under contract with Nike for a long time, I started in 2006 so I'm really glad that now it's the national team brand.

SB: How important is modern technology in the shirts and boots for performance?

FM: Now everyone uses light kits and this one is really light. When you sweat in the shirt you don't feel the shirt becoming heavy. I tried it when we shot the adverts with Nike and you feel really comfortable even when you're sweating.

SB: What do you think of the other new features in the shirt?

FM: I like the new colour along with the red stripe that you can wear in different ways. When you're talking about performance the main thing is the weight of the shirt and how the shirt moves with the sweat. All I can say is that it's really comfortable!

The new Nike France Home Shirt 2011-12 is set to make its debut at one of the biggest stages of them all! France will make their first appearance in the new home strip when France take on Brasil at le Stade de France on Febuary 9th!

Rafael van der Vaart & Jack Wilshere Interview

Soccer_Boots — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:30:00 GMT

At the official launch of the new Nike CTR II boots SoccerBible had the chance to sit down with two of the CTR's biggest players. Rafael van der Vaart and Jack Wilshere are two players who embody everything the CTR football boots are about - the playmaker. They were more than happy to discuss everything from their heroes to the season so far. Check out what the two had to say as questions were fired at the midfield duo......(read more)

Nike FFF Designer Interview

Editor — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:43:00 GMT

Tweet

A national football shirt is a symbol of identity, it carries the hopes and expectations of millions of football fans, so how do you go about designing the first Nike FFF kit? To find out the answers and to understand the creation process, SoccerBible had an exclusive interview with Romain Gardair, the Global Apparel Product Manager for the French Football Federation.

This week saw the global launch of the new FFF football shirt, the launch event was elaborately staged in Paris with such stars as Laurent Blanc, Florent Malouda and Abou Diaby in attendance. But behind the grand launch was one man who has seen the project through from start to finish - a project that has lasted three years - that man is Romain Gardair, and he granted an exclusive audience to the SoccerBible fans...

SoccerBible: If you could tell us the inspiration behind the new FFF football shirt?

Romain Gardair: First of all we wanted to start from scratch which is great to be able to do, because we didn't have any history with the French national team.

We went around France and interviewed players, ex-players, journalists, sports journalists, fashion consultants, sociologists and so many other experts. The vision and the idea was to grab as many insights as we could what it was to be French, what this team meant for the French and what were the values of the team.

So instead of sketching and designing the shirt, we wanted to know what were the

values of the national team. Thanks to those values we designed the whole kit, as it's not just about the shirt it's about the overall silhouette. It's this groundwork that has given us the values, and everything we have done has been based on those values.

SB: Do you see the shirt as a symbol of the new era in French football?

RG: It's a new era by what we call brand essence, so 'Our Differences Unite Us' which is the phrase you find on the inside of the shirt, sums up all the values and the truth of that team. The French are really diverse coming from so many different origins, their differences make them stronger whether it's on the pitch or in their lives. The team is

made up of extraordinary players and hardcore defenders, it's a mix of two people with a different origin working together which is so unique, so we wanted to make the shirt unique.

SB: How important are the materials and technology in the shirt?

RG: This is actually the starting point. I mentioned the research on the values and the essence of the team, but on the other

hand you have to work on the different materials. We thought what is the best fabric for the players and the team that will also make the shirt environmentally friendly, and be a breakthrough in the industry. So we researched and put a lot of thought into the fabric.

The idea was to keep the perspiration management system that is key for the players and to bring comfort on the interior. By keeping the best of the technology from Nike for a 100% polyester shirt, you're mixing the two and giving this elegant look as well.

SB: A new football boot will be given to the players for play testing, is it the same process with a shirt?

RG: Exactly. The new shirt is slimmer and slightly longer, so we do some samples that go to the players and we ask them to train in it and tell us what they think. We get feedback for different fabric and different sizing, as well the comfort. If the players don't feel comfortable in the shirt, even if it's a brand new design, it doesn't work!

So the first integral point is does Florent Malouda feel happy with the shirt, and is Abou Diaby happy with the shirt? If they are, and if they think it doesn't disturb them and brings them more performance than you can work on the rest. So we've done several wear test sessions with them just in the feel of the shirt and of the fabric to get it perfect.

SB: Did you always have a collar in mind, because it's iconic and symbolic of France and Nike star Eric Cantona?

RG: The collar came quite early in the process, the vision was to have this shirt-like collar, we didn't want it to be gimmicky or just referring to the past as you always look forward. If you want to buy the best shirt now, then you want the best collar possible and so we thought it would be different to have a small one.

SB: How will you feel when you first see the shirt being worn by the French national team as they walk onto the pitch?

Wow, I think I'll try not to cry! This kit has been the result of a team working for three years, I'm here talking to you but I'm representing such a big team of designers, developers, materials team, marketing, just such a broad team. When it comes to life then that's the big moment, you work for that, and when it comes you feel really proud, so I'll tell you in a month!

SB: Will you be attending the game?

Yes of course, we're bringing the entire football apparel team to the game. It's sort of a reward as they work so hard on the shirts and often don't get the opportunity to see them worn. But this time it is such a massive occasion, so we're able to bring the team to have a great moment and celebrate.

You can check out our full review of the new FFF football shirt, plus all the news from the spectacular launch event. And stay tuned to the SoccerBible for more exclusive interviews...

Jermain Defoe Interview - adidas adizero Prime

Ball Boy — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 10:00:00 GMT

As part of the adizero Speed challenge, Jermain Defoe spoke exclusively to the SoccerBible to give us the lowdown on the brand new adidas F50 adizero Prime football boots. And we also couldn't resist hearing what he had to say about playing with Van Der Vaart, Beckham's arrival at Spurs and Tottenham's chances in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup......(read more)