if I was one of the Heads in product department in a big bran like adidas, Reusch or Uhlsport I would not let a single season pass without a retro edition of legendary models. These special editions are a tribute to shoes special models that made the brand become so big, and they can also make the veterans drop a tear and the younger players find out a little bit about the brands hisotry. As a nice Christmas gift adidas launches three retro gloves.
Those of you who have some history knowledge in sports equipment probably have recognized these three iconic models. So for the rest of you, I'm going to enjoy this moment and talk you about each model.
ADIDAS ACE PRO ZONES 1982 - Toni Schumacher
In 1982 the FIFA World Cup was hosted by Spain. West Germany was one of the favorites and in the goal we could see Harald 'Toni' Schumachet wearing some adidas gloves with grey tones and a special design for that time.
Back the it was pretty normal to see a one piece latex back hand that would cover the center and fingers and was like that in most brands. We are taling about a very serious moment when it comes to goalkeeper gloves evolution: Latex was introduced for the palms and backhands and was an extreme evolution in the market.
The ACE Zones Pro 1982 maintains the same look but obviously it won't maintain the same tech specs of a gloves created in the 80's because it wouldn't be good enough today.
So that once latex backhand in two tones has been modifies and they've incorporated flexion lines so the hand can move free with no restrictions. adidas has been carefull enough to do it without touching the look of the glove.
33 years after the first latex glove was a success with adidas in the 1982 World Cup, adidas decides to bring it back and to give it to a special player. a unique goalkeeper, a legend: Iker Casillas. Oporto's goalkeeper will be using these new gloves in the next Champions League game, the new adidas ACE Pro Zones 1982.
ADIDAS ACE PRO ZONES 1997 - Oliver Kahn
The German goakeeper, Oliver Kahn was performing in at the best level when he signed for adidas and left Reusch. He was always in Bayern Münich starting line and also fiting for the position in the National team with a legend such as Andreas Köpke, he was getting ore and more popular and adidas decided he should receive a special treatment and gave him an exclusive glove.
Oliver Kahn asked for the glove to feature the same colors of his goalkeeper shirt in Bayern Münich, same colors we can find in the club shield. Although he always had that aggressive look, Oliver Kahn, today ex-goalkeeper for Bayern was always a reference at took care of looking good with the club and his country.
Of the three models that adidas is releasing, my personal opinion, this one is the one that was less important back in the days. That might be the reason why they've focused in making it more atractive.
The adidas bands with that special triangular outline and the classic adidas typography in the index finger. A colorway that was a complete success in 1997 and that today, 2015, still looks awesome.
You might be wondering, who is going to be wearing these gloves? Obviousy there is one player that has to receive the glove worn by Oliver kahn in Bayern Münich and the National team. Yes I'm talking about Manuel Neuer who has already been seen wearing his new gloves and will defend Bayern in the Champions League with the new adidas ACE Pro Zones 1997.
ADIDAS ACE PRO ZONES 1998 - Fabien Barthez
And the last one is my favorite. Fabien Barthez was most definitely not my favorite goalkeeper but for sure he was one that took my attention. He was one of those players with charisma independently of his sports records.
He became more popular after the World Cup in 1998 with those white gloves with the huge adidas bands in the back hand. Those glove were only worn for the game he played in the World Cup and no other goalkeeper would have. I searched for them everywhere back in 1998, back then internet was not what it is today. I spent tons of hours phone calling to different sports shops and after all those calls I gave up and realised adidas didn't put them in the market for the public.
But lucky us that adidas decided to include these glove in the History Pack. The retro model comes again in that white base color in the back hand with the three adidas bands in the backhand... The magic of the glove that made France win the World Cup back in 1998 is back with the ACE Pro Zones.
Due to the special decoration of this glove with the latex piece that runs all over the backhand providing a special sensation of reinforcement that you we didn't get with other ACE Zones Pro until now. If you like adidas gloves and you're looking for a reinforced powerfull glove, this one should be considered.
The lucky goalkeeper to wear this model and defend the goal of his club will be Petr Cech. We will see him in his next game with Arsenal in Champions League with these special new gloves.
You can get your favorite pair of the HISTORY PACK now in SOLOPORTEROS.com by clicking in the following links:
- ACE ZONES PRO 1982 - Harald Schumacher
- ACE ZONES PRO 1997 - Oliver Kahn
- ACE ZONES PRO 1998 - Fabien Barthez
