Adidas Predator History

Adidas Predator had been known as the world's best selling football boot. The common feature of the Predator range is the presence of rubber patches or strips on the top of the shoe that, according to Adidas, increase power, swerve, and accuracy when kicking the ball. In early 1990's Craig Johnston, former Liverpool winger from Australia, came up with the idea of attaching rubber patches with teeth-like dimples to the outside of the kicking area of the boot in order to apply extra spin to the ball when passing and shooting, this prototype design then become the first Adidas Predator series.

The Series

Predator (1994)

The First Adidas Predator introduced on the occasion of World Cup '94 in USA. This shoes makes the player had more power, more control and more swerve when kicking a ball with more accuracy. Adidas Predator proving to be a revolution in football footwear with the technology innovation considered as the greatest since the screw-in stud had been introduced.

Predator Rapier (1995)

Adidas Rapier also known as Adidas Predator II, is an update from the former model. The rubber-fins get a re-design to offered a greater ball control and increased power. Another improvement was it offered a more natural fit to the foot. Predator Rapier was the first who had a fold-over tounge design.

Predator Touch (1996)

The Predator Touch meant a change in many ways. It featured the Traxion (trx) studs which enabling increased grip. Traxion studs where rectangular and anatomically placed in sole. Before, studs had always been round. The Predator Touch first seen on EURO 1996.

Predator Accelerator (1998)

To coincide with the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, Adidas launched the Predator Accelerator. With a more anatomically sound and professional fit, the football boot included asymmetrical loop lacing providing a larger, cleaner kicking surface to eliminate missed shots and passes.

Predator Precision (2000)

The Adidas Predator Precision was launched during the EURO 2000, with exchangeable TRAXION studs: XTRAXION. A merge between some of the leading football boot innovations ever: the idea of exchangeable studs from 1954 and the Predator and TRAXION technologies of the mid ‘90s. The exchangeable Traxion studs that were fitted by the tightening of a minute screw. These studs were available in various lengths that made the boot adjustable to ground conditions as is possible with the classic screw-in soft-ground studs. There were however some reliability problems, as the studs would come loose quite often, thus needing more constant maintenance than the classic screw-ins.

Predator Mania (2002)

The 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea-Japan was the launch pad for the Predator Mania. As a much lighter Predator football boot, the Mania featured a split outsole construction. The renewed configuration of the Predator compound allowed players to give the ball even more swerve than before.

Predator Pulse (2004)

The Predator Pulse presented in 2004 featured the new PowerPulse technology for the first time. The PowerPulse unit, relocates only 40 grams of weight to the front of the shoe, achieving an increased power transfer of 3% in every kick. This means increased ball speed and ultimately less reaction time for a goalkeeper when the ball is shot on goal. The Predator once again confirmed its status as the world’s premier football boot, selling well over two million pairs in 2004 and 2005.

Predator Absolute (2006)

Adidas unleashed its most accurate, lightest and most powerful football boot at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany: the Predator Absolute. The 8th generation of Predator features the revolutionary Exchangeable PowerPulse technology, allowing players to add power to taste!

Predator PowerSwerve (2007)

Adidas' newest version of the Predator, the PowerSwerve, achieves eight percent more swerve and increases the power behind every shot by around three percent, compared to its predecessor. The dynamic Powerpulse and engineered Predator technology elements shifts weight toward the point of impact as you kick, whilst adding forefoot power (Power Zone), allowing more powerful shots and increased flexibilty. Increased shot and pass swerve is achieved by enhanced Predator technology in the Swerve Zone at the side of the football boot.
More about Predator PowerSwerve.