My love of soccer/football and sneakers really blossomed simultaneously in the mid- 2000’s beginning with Nike and Manchester United. Who could forget those iconic Nike commercials starring some of the biggest names in the game? A young Ronaldo and Zlatan squaring off or Ronaldinho dazzling us with his dribbling skills. As Nike began to cement its place on an international stage of the beautiful game, we began to see classic color schemes of their teams trickle down onto their sneakers. Here are a few of my favorites.
NIKE SB & NON-SB DUNK LOW
Originally released in 2005 and re-released in 2017, this pair of Nike SB Dunk Lows was a favorite among sneakerheads in the mid-’00s with many of them realizing where its nickname came from. Nicknamed “Bocas”, the Boca Juniors inspired Dunks featured a blue upper with a yellow swoosh and heel tab. A white midsole and gum sole completed the coveted pair of SB’s. While it didn’t have any logos or branding from the club, the color scheme was unmistakable. Luckily, you can still find the original pair or re-release readily available online at third-party resellers like StockX.
Throughout the 00’s you could find soccer/football inspiration throughout Nike’s sneaker releases without any clear logos or branding. One of the most dominant teams during this period was Brazil whose classic green and yellow lends way for this pair of Dunks’ nickname. Originally released in 2001 in low and high versions, the “Brazil” Dunk has since been re-released making it easier to get your hands on. While this iconic color scheme has been featured on several pairs of Nike’s, this might be the best iteration. Click here to find the original pair available.
In 2004 Nike released the two pairs of Dunks seen above and below. The former has dubbed “Hollands” for its orange, white, and black color scheme. A circle with the number 12 appears on the tag, mimicking the design that appeared on the kit worn for the Euros that year. While these might be the first time footy fans are seeing these sneakers, they will definitely bring back some nostalgia for anyone who was collecting sneakers at the time and has since become very desirable with the popularity of older Dunks on the rise. If you’re still hunting for a pair and don’t want to waste your time looking, you can find select sizes available here.
As mentioned above, Nike released the Holland Dunks alongside this pair, which was inspired by only one team, Portugal. One look at these shoes and it’s hard to not think of Luis Figo and that 2004 squad. Portugal were the hosts of the Euro 2004 and eventual runners-up as they were upset by Greece in the finals. It’s been 16 years since these shoes have been released, but they still do pop up from time to time including at stores like Flight Club.
NIKE SB AIR ZOOM FC
I would be remised not to include Nike SB’s Air Zoom FC. Steeped in football heritage, this low profile sneaker appeared on store shelves of skate shops for a number of years with a few incredible color schemes. One of my earliest SB memories was picking up a pair of Manchester United themed Air Zoom FC’s during the silver box era. Nike included the club’s logo at the heel and released home and away versions with Inter Milan, Juventus, Barcelona and a few others being featured. You’ll definitely have to do some digging to find these rare sneakers, but eBay will likely be your best option.
NIKE AIR MAX BW
Prior to teaming up with Air Jordan on a selection of releases, Nike released this pair of Air Max BW’s in 2007. While you won’t find any PSG branding on this pair, it was sold in Paris and featured the iconic red, white and blue color scheme as well as a speckled midsole which is definitely one of my favorite features on this shoe. This release went under the radar and definitely didn’t generate that much hype, but it’s still a favorite among anyone who collects PSG-inspired sneakers. You should be able to find it on the Internet including here.
NIKE AIR MAX 1
In 2004, Nike released this pair of Air Max 1’s dedicated to the Urawa Red Diamonds. The sneaker combined red and yellow accents with grey mesh and a white midsole. You will hardly ever find this rare sneaker in wearable condition as Air Maxes from this time period are notorious for separating or having a deflated air bubble over years of wear. Sneaker collectors have gone to great lengths to preserve this shoe and restored it to wearable condition. It will definitely set you back a pretty penny, but a must-have for any Air Max fan. Click here to purchase.
NIKE AIR MAX 95
When it comes to Serie A, there is no team that has dominated the league quite like Juventus. In 2003, Nike paid tribute to the Italian giants with their very own pair of Air Max 95’s. The shoe is comprised of the team’s white and black classic stripes with hints of gold including the swoosh towards the end of the shoe and two stars on the tongue to commemorate their two Champions League titles. This is definitely one of the harder to find pairs on this list, but definitely worth the hunt.
NIKE AIR FOOTSCAPE WOVEN
In 2006, Nike celebrated the World Cup by releasing a number of sneakers dedicated to one of the biggest sporting events of the year. Among the chosen models was the Air Footscape Woven, which saw countries like the US, Croatia, Mexico, Korea, and several others making up special colorways. Pictured above is the USMNT version in grey and white with red laces and 12 numbering at the heel. You’ll have to scour eBay and other resell websites to track down this rare pair.
NIKE KOBE 6
Kobe Bryant (RIP) was an international icon and regarded as one of the best basketball players ever. While basketball was Kobe’s passion, he’s often talked about his love of soccer/football, which he developed during his childhood growing up in Italy. He would pop-up during training sessions at clubs like Barcelona, AC Milan, and PSG, which inspired releases like this. With Barcelona being one of his favorite clubs, this iconic color scheme and branding were featured on several occasions including Kobe’s sixth signature Nike sneaker. Blue, yellow, and maroon can be found throughout while the Barcelona logo is visible on the reverse side of the tongue. This is a special sneaker for many reasons and worth every penny. Find it available at websites like StockX.
AIR JORDAN V
As mentioned earlier, PSG’s partnership with Jordan Brand sparked the release of countless pairs of Air Jordan’s. Among the standouts has been the Air Jordan V, which released in two different versions including the friends and family version pictured above. While this pair was not sold at retailers, it represents two iconic brands coming together. You’ll find a white upper along with “75” replacing the signature 23 at the sides and the custom “PARIS” branding at the central panel. More PSG x Air Jordan branding appears at the heel of the shoe. While it was never available to the general public, pairs are floating around on the Internet for $2,000+ on websites like Flight Club.
