ASICS in Football: A History of Boots, Players, and Clubs

ASICS, a Japanese sports equipment company, has thrived in the industry since 1949. While the ASICS brand is renowned for its high-performance running shoes, it also manufactures a wide range of other sporting goods, including football boots.

The brand's journey commenced under the name Onitsuka Co., Ltd on September 1, 1949, when its founder, Kihachiro Onitsuka, started producing basketball shoes in his hometown of Kobe, Japan. 

Onitsuka held a strong belief in the transformative power of sports in people's lives. Although the company's early focus was on basketball, it didn't take long for them to diversify into various other sports, such as running, tennis, and wrestling. It was the realm of running that truly propelled the brand to new heights, marked by its Olympic debut in the 1964 Summer Games held in Tokyo. This significant event saw Japan achieving its best-ever medal tally, with ASICS playing an integral role in supporting athletes every step of the way.

Fast forward to the late '70s, and ASICS had emerged as one of the world's premier sporting brands. They provided footwear for athletes participating in numerous sports, across various levels, a legacy that continues to this day.

ASICS has had a long and rich history in football, dating back to the 1970s. The company's first football boots were released in the '70s and quickly gained popularity among players and fans alike. The famous Mexico 66 shoe was not originally designed as a football-specific shoe, but its combination of comfort, stability, and a lightweight build made it a favorite among football players for training and casual wear. 

In the present day, ASICS Football boots are known for their comfort, performance, and durability. The company uses a variety of innovative technologies in its boots, such as Gel cushioning, FlyteFoam, and HG10mm technology.

HG10mm technology lessens the load on the leg and reduces the impact on the knee when running forward in sports such as football. It remains one of ASICS' most well-known and appreciated features for athletes.

Famous Players Who Wore ASICS Football Boots:

Some of the most famous players to have worn ASICS football boots include:

• Shinji Ono: The Japanese star was one of the first Asian players to make a significant impact in Europe. He wore ASICS boots throughout his career, which included spells at Feyenoord and, of course, Western Sydney Wanderers in Australia.

• Franco Baresi: The Italian legend, widely regarded as one of the best defenders to ever play the game, wore ASICS boots for the early part of his career, including when he won the European Cup with AC Milan in 1989.

• Antonio Di Natale: What a player! Antonio Di Natale had an immense career that spanned over two decades, primarily with Udinese in Serie A. He was renowned for his versatility and his ability to play both as a forward and attacking midfielder. What set him apart was his knack for scoring a plethora of goals, with many of them being nothing short of spectacular. Well worth a look on YouTube.

• Fabio Grosso: When you've played for the likes of Inter Milan, Lyon, and Juventus, you know you're a great player. Add in the 2006 World Cup triumph, where he scored the winning penalty, and you realize he's had a stellar career. Grosso's iconic winner against Germany is still easily found on Google, where you can spot his blue and white ASICS boots from that memorable moment. Something the Azzurri fans all around the globe will never forget.

• Mario Yepes: The Colombian defender was a stalwart of the Colombian national team for many years, playing over 100 games. He wore ASICS boots throughout his career, which included spells at Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Atalanta, and River Plate.

• Gianluca Vialli: The late great Italian striker wore ASICS boots for the early part of his career, including when he won the Serie A title with Sampdoria in 1991. The boots and ASICS Sampdoria combo looked 10/10 back then. Just one of the classic clubs ASICS used to sponsor, as we'll go into detail a little further down.

• David Beckham: If you haven't watched the David Beckham documentary yet, you should get on it. It's packed full of nostalgia, and those with a keen eye for boots will notice that 'Goldenballs' used to rock a pair of ASICS TSS900's in his early days at Manchester United.

• Andrés Iniesta: The Spanish legend currently wears ASICS boots. After a long history with Nike, Iniesta announced in 2018 that he was officially joining ASICS to wear the X-Fly 3 boots.

Clubs That Wore ASICS Sponsored Jerseys:

ASICS has also sponsored massive football clubs over the years. Some of the most notable clubs to have worn ASICS sponsored jerseys include:

• Sampdoria: ASICS began to sponsor Sampdoria back in 1990, and the timing couldn't have been better. The aforementioned Gianluca Vialli was the top scorer in Serie A with 19 goals while wearing ASICS boots that season, and his goals, along with integral campaigns from the likes of Mancini, Lombardo, Pagliuca, and Vierchowod, helped guide the club to their first-ever league title. To say staff back at ASICS head office must have been thrilled is an understatement.

• Blackburn Rovers: Blackburn was another club that experienced remarkable success while wearing ASICS. Although it wasn't an immediate triumph like Sampdoria's, it was just as significant. ASICS and Blackburn initiated their partnership in the 1992/93 season, eventually winning the league in 1994/95. That particular season was truly exceptional for Blackburn, narrowly outpacing the highly-regarded Manchester United by just one point in the league standings. Alan Shearer played a pivotal role in this achievement, netting 34 goals in the league. Australian player Robbie Slater also contributed to their success and remains one of only two Aussies to have claimed the Premier League title, alongside Mark Bosnich.

• AS Roma: The Italian Serie A club wore ASICS sponsored jerseys from 1994, replacing adidas. Some of the kits adidas were producing with the Italian giants were stunning, so ASICS had a lot to live up to - and they delivered right up to 1997. The standout has to be their 1994/95 away jersey, an absolute classic deserving of its own Scudetto.

Being a Japanese brand, ASICS has sponsored some of their best back home, including the national team. J-League teams such as Kawasaki Frontale, JEF United Chiba, and Vegalta Sendai have all worn ASICS, with Vissel Kobe still doing so to this day.

Other notable mentions that have worn the brand are Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Borussia Monchengladbach, Partizan Belgrade, Atalanta, Sunderland, Coventry City, Torino, Stade Rennais, Panathinaikos, and Cagliari.

The lists of players and clubs above really make you appreciate how much of a long and distinguished history ASICS has had in football. The company's boots have been worn by some of the biggest names in the game, and its sponsored jerseys have been worn by some of the biggest clubs in the world.

We also know, through stocking the boots like the Ultrezza, Lethal Tigreor, and Lethal Testimonial, that our consumer base resonates with them. It's one of those 'if you know, you know' brands, which tends to be a recurring theme with Japanese brands. They might not be as loud and flashy as some of the other big global brands, because the brand teams are confident that the word will get out that the boots are top quality. And we're here to confirm that to be true.

If you are looking for a new pair of football boots, ASICS is a brand that you should definitely consider. The company produces a wide range of boots to suit all playing styles and, perhaps most importantly of all, they include technology to protect the player. Not every brand can say the same.

If you're looking for a lighter, more speed-based boot, keep it locked to our socials. We've got some very exciting ASICS news to announce soon.