Alright, let's talk about the adidas Predator. If you’ve been around football for a bit, you know this boot. It’s not just a piece of gear; it’s a whole vibe, a part of the game’s history. For over 30 years, the Predator has been pushing boundaries, and honestly, it’s done it with a bit of an attitude. Remember that old slogan? "100% Legal, 0% Fair." That pretty much sums it up.
From the moment it first hit the pitch, the Predator changed things. It brought new ideas to the game, and some of the biggest names in football wore them during their most iconic moments. But here's the thing about being iconic: you can't just rest on your laurels. The game keeps moving, players get faster, tactics change, and so the Predator has to keep up, always looking for that next edge.
This year, adidas has done it again. They've rolled out the latest Predator, packed with fresh innovations, but without forgetting where it all started. We’re talking about a blend of the old and new here. They've brought back features like the PowerSpine, which you might remember from the late 2000s – it’s all about giving you that extra power. And then there’s brand-new tech like Nanostrike+, designed to give players maximum grip, a snug fit, and pinpoint precision. Every decision, every tiny detail, is about respecting the boot's past while making sure it performs at the absolute top level today.
So, here we are. Decades have passed, countless versions and colourways have dropped, and the Predator still holds its legendary status. The latest generation isn't trying to erase history; it's simply adding another chapter to one of football's great stories.
To get the real lowdown, we chatted with Thomas Mace, the VP of Design at adidas Football. We wanted to hear about how the Predator went from being a bold newcomer to a game-changer, what top players actually look for in a boot, and what’s next for this absolute icon.
If you’re keen to get your hands on them, the new adidas Predator is out now, available online and in adidas stores.
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**VERSUS:** The Predator has been around for nearly 32 years. What makes this new version the best one yet?
**Thomas Mace:** Look, our main goal is always to make our product better. Every single year, we get our hands on improved technology, smarter tools, better machinery, and we gather more data and insights directly from our players. When you combine all that knowledge with the rich football heritage adidas has built over decades, it just stands to reason that this *should* be the best Predator we've ever made. At its core, it’s always been about control, and this boot takes that to another level.
**VERSUS:** You joined the Predator journey a bit later on. How have you managed to adapt the designs and technology to fit how the modern game has evolved?
**Thomas Mace:** Data is super important, absolutely. But it’s not just about numbers; it’s also about direct feedback. And I mean feedback from everyone – from the professional players at the top of their game right down to the grassroots players who are out there on local pitches every weekend. adidas has this incredible archive, a really deep history in football, but we also have a dedicated innovation team. Their job is to constantly feed us new insights, helping us understand how to push the game forward and make our products better. The game changes, technology changes, and we simply have to evolve with it. If the game gets faster, then our boots need to look faster, feel faster, and actually *be* faster. That's the thinking behind our creative approach. It’s about anticipating where the game is going and making sure our product is already there.
**VERSUS:** When most people think of the Predator, they think of legendary players – from Zidane to Bellingham, Bonmatí, Russo, and so many others. Who are some of your personal favourites?
**Thomas Mace:** Well, I’ve actually met Zidane, so he’s definitely close to my heart. Being half French probably helps a bit too! He just moved so elegantly in them, didn't he? How can you not feel a connection to the Predators when you think of players like that? Jude Bellingham also looks incredible in them, they really suit his style. But honestly, there are so many players – whether they're world-famous or just playing for their local club. What really matters to us is that people enjoy the game and feel like they can play their absolute best football when they’re wearing Predators.
**VERSUS:** Is there a specific Predator moment in football history that truly stands out for you?
**Thomas Mace:** Honestly? The very first time I wore them myself – and that was before I even worked at adidas. I already had all those classic Predator moments in my head, you know? That personal connection really stuck with me. I also love when we bring back classic designs, like when we reintroduced the Mania. It’s a rich history we have, but we need both sides of it: digging into our past for inspiration, but also being modern, technically advanced, and always delivering the best possible product on the pitch. It's about respecting the legacy while always looking forward.
**VERSUS:** Nostalgia has made a huge comeback lately, and adidas seems to really nail that balance between heritage, performance, and innovation. How do you manage to honour the past while still designing for the future?
**Thomas Mace:** That’s a really good question. I could probably tell you 25 different stories about this, but one key example that really stands out is the foldover tongue. We actually didn’t have it on the boots for decades because the timing just wasn’t right, or maybe consumers weren't asking for it. Design trends are often cyclical, they come and go. So, bringing it back in 2024 was a real game-changer. It started as a technical feature, but it became something more – a cultural thing. That simple gesture of folding the tongue over and fastening the strap in the changing room, it puts you in a certain mindset. It’s part of the ritual. From the very beginning, the Predator was about being "100% legal, 0% fair," and that spirit of pushing boundaries has always been at the heart of our innovation.
**VERSUS:** What's the biggest challenge when you're evolving from one Predator generation to the next?
**Thomas Mace:** It's really about two things: the product itself and the mindset around it. On the product side, it's about constantly understanding how the game is changing and how the consumer's expectations are evolving. The boot is packed with technology, no doubt, but it also has to be culturally relevant. How it looks matters just as much as how it performs. You want to look good and feel good when you step onto the pitch. So, the biggest challenge is staying relevant, staying fresh, while still delivering the absolute best performance product possible. It's a delicate balance.
**VERSUS:** Football today isn't just about what happens on the pitch; it has a huge crossover into fashion and wider culture. When you're designing a boot, do you think about the street as much as you think about the stadium?
**Thomas Mace:** Performance always, always comes first. Let’s be clear, this is a highly technical product, designed to perform on the biggest stages of the game. We've definitely seen trends where people wear cleated boots on the street, and that's cool, it shows the boot's appeal, but fundamentally, its purpose is performance. That said, football itself goes far beyond just performance. It crosses into art, into museums, into general lifestyle. Our "bring-back" models, those retro re-releases, have been incredibly successful because they tap into that wider cultural appeal. And naturally, new generations of boots often lead to signature editions where bespoke designs become really important for individual players. It's about acknowledging the wider impact of football, but never losing sight of the core job the boot needs to do.
**VERSUS:** How crucial is player involvement in shaping the Predator?
**Thomas Mace:** Everyone is part of the same ecosystem, and players are a absolutely key part of that. We have really strong relationships with them, and it’s important for us to create a product that not only performs but also suits their visual identity, their mindset, and their personal culture. We’re a global brand making a global product, so that diversity in player feedback and perspective is incredibly important to us. It helps us make sure the boot resonates with different styles of play and different personalities around the world.
**VERSUS:** Do players consistently ask for similar things, whether it's about the look or the technical features?
**Thomas Mace:** Every player has their own specific preferences, and that's completely normal, even expected. Our role as a brand is to provide for those individual needs, to offer solutions that cater to a wide range of playing styles and personal demands, while still keeping that core Predator DNA. It's about finding that sweet spot where the boot works for many, but can also be tailored to the specific demands of the very best.
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