Summary

  • Nike and Phaidon Press team up for a definitive 240-page hardcover archive
  • The book explores four defining footwear silos including the Tiempo and Mercurial
  • Award-winning author Caleb Azumah Nelson contributes illuminating essays on football culture

Nike and Phaidon Press have officially introduced Nike Football Boots, a comprehensive new volume documenting the unprecedented history of the Swoosh’s iconic pitch-ready footwear. From the earliest all-black leather silhouettes of the 1970s — the first of any shoe to feature the famous Swoosh — to the space-age innovations worn by modern superstars, the 240-page hardcover book serves as a lavishly illustrated homage to the beautiful game and the legendary boots that bring it to life.

Structurally, the publication divides its vast timeline into four dedicated chapters, each unpacking a core product line that encapsulated the brand’s design ethos for its respective era. Readers are taken through the classic leather anatomy of the Tiempo (first released in 1984), the speed-engineered lightness of the Mercurial, the striking power-focused construction of the Total 90, and the modern advancements of the Phantom. The book also dives deep into the mythology of these boots and the legendary athletes who immortalized them, including Brazilian striker Ronaldo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, and Megan Rapinoe, who proudly wore the Phantom in her final game.

To provide a holistic view of the crossover culture, the publication enlists an impressive roster of contributors. Award-winning author Caleb Azumah Nelson distills the nostalgic magic of southeast London’s football scene through illuminating essays, while London College of Fashion historian Thomas Turner breaks down the granular material and design shifts. Rounding out the deep dive is a special 12-page glossy insert that acts as the ultimate Department of Nike Archives boot room, displaying every model dating from 1971 to the present day.

For decades, the football pitch has acted as a proving ground for some of Nike’s most daring technological and aesthetic advancements. Longtime followers of the brand know that the cultural footprint of these cleats extends far beyond the stadium. Silhouettes like the Total 90 not only prioritized striking power for the era’s greatest attackers, but they also birthed a bold, unconventional early-2000s design language that inevitably spilled into streetwear and was recently revived as a lifestyle sportswear silo.

The Nike Football Boots book is available now via Phaidon’s webstore and select retail locations.

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