Thierry Henry talks about his football in this new video from his new football boot sponsors - Reebok.

Thierry Henry speaks about a range of personal views and feelings about his own game.

Watch the Video

In Me and My Game, Thierry talks about how he personally prepares for football, what time he wakes up on match days, his music mixing for the changing rooms, why he wears his socks over his knees plus more.

It’s an interesting video, although I cannot work out what the connection is with the head massage.

Order Thierry Henry’s Football Boots Online Now

Ashley Cole’s agent, Jonathan Barnett has been fined £100,000 and suspended for 18 months by the Football Association, but he can still negotiate football boot deals!

The Football Association have ruled that Jonathan Barnett was guilty of misconduct by organising a meeting in January 2005, involving Chelsea officials Jose Mourinho and Peter Kenyon and Ashley Cole, who was in contract with Arsenal.

“We consider this a most serious case of its kind involving as it did a leading English international player contracted to one of England’s premier clubs, namely Arsenal FC, and also involving the chief executive and manager of another leading English premier club, namely Chelsea FC,” an FA statement said.

His agent’s licence was suspended for 18 months in total, half of which was suspended, and he was ordered to pay costs on top of the fine.

“We are wholly satisfied that there is need in this case for an element of deterrence in the sanction we are to impose. We are also wholly satisfied that Mr Barnett was a prime mover in the setting up of the meeting,” the FA statement added.

Barnett’s suspension effectively prohibits him from being involved in any transfer or re-negotiation of a contract for a player, but the Football Association have no jurisdiction over his involvement in the negotiation of commercial contracts such as football boot deals.

Comment on the Ashley Cole Saga

I’ve tried to resist the temptation of writing about Ashley Cole and his transfer saga, as it has already been covered in just about every other form of media. However, the news that his football agent has now been fined and suspended, ties in with my reading of his autobiography, which has further fuelled my will to publish my thoughts.

Now that the Football Association have taken Jonathan Barnett to task, its pretty much certain, if it wasn’t already, that Ashley Cole and his agent instigated the ’secret’ meeting which led to Ashley Cole taking his football boots to Chelsea. The Football Association wouldn’t have made this bold move unless they were certain that the case would not come back and nip them on the backside.

In his book, Ashley Cole claims that he asked Jonathan Barnett to arrange a meeting with Pini Zahavi, the Israeli “super-agent”. Ashley Cole claimed he wanted to meet Pini Zahavi, as he would be able to give him the low-down on his footballing options outside of the Premiership, as Ashley Cole would not want to move to a football team within the Premiership. Ashley Cole claims that during this meeting, Jose Mourinho and Peter Kenyon of Chelsea, arrived to meet with Pini Zahavi, as they had a meeting scheduled with Pini Zahavi, straight after Ashley Cole’s meeting.

Ashley Cole claims in his book, that they held a basic conversation, without discussing a potential transfer. Jose Mourinho in his hearing with the FA, claimed that the Ashley Cole was being offered to Chelsea and that Ashley Cole even discussed his concerns about how the Arsenal dressing room was full of cliques.

What I cannot understand is this;

Why, as Ashley Cole claims, was he researching a European transfer away from Arsenal? Surely that is also against Football Association rules and disloyal to the club he claimed at the time was his home?

Excusing the so called coincidence of Chelsea turning up during the meeting, isn’t it remarkable that he has now ended up at Chelsea, despite him saying that he could not move to another Premiership club?

This book, apart from making Ashley Cole even more money, does not help his cause. In fact it just further cements the fact that Ashley Cole is poorly advised. Why doesn’t he keep his head down and do what he is great at, playing football?

Football Boots

Ashley Cole currently wears Adidas +F50 TUNiT football boots and has been training in Adidas 7406 football boots.

The Book

My Defence: Winning, losing, scandals and the drama of Germany 2006 - Can be ordered here from Amazon.

Adidas have been crowned the best brand of football boots according to the readers of this blog.

The poll that has been running for the last month, here on Footy Boots, showed a massive 47% of voters chose Adidas as their favoured brand of football boots, which will no doubt please the German sporting goods company.

The poll results had American company Nike in second place with a third of the voters, followed by Puma with less than 10% of votes.

So based on these figures, almost 5 out of 10 football players think Adidas and 8 out of 10 think Adidas or Nike when considering their brand of football boots.

Full Poll Results:

Our Question: What is the best brand of football boot?

Adidas 47% (332 Votes)
Nike 33% (232 Votes)
Puma 8% (55 Votes)
Other 5% (32 Votes)
Reebok 4% (31 Votes)
Lotto 3% (22 Votes)

Total Votes: 704

Footy Boots have selected 8 of the best football players of all time and have been researching what football boots these legends were wearing in their prime.

We have selected 8 legends which have consistently featured in published “top players of all time” polls.

The footballers and their boots that will be going under the microscope over the next few days are, in alphabetical order;

Marco van Basten
Franz Beckenbauer
George Best
Johan Cruyff
Pele
Diego Maradona
Bobby Moore
Michel Platini

If you’d like to add any legends to the list and can supply evidence of the football boots they were, or are wearing, please post your comment.

Welsh football fans have been fimed playing nude at a Welsh Premier League club Port Talbot.

The shots have been viewed by thousands of internet viewers across the world thanks to Californian based website YouTube.
The six footballers filmed themselves scoring goals and celebrating naked, although they kept their football boots and socks on.

The footballers who have reportedly been identified as supporters of Port Talbot, have now been told by the club chairman “We don’t condone this sort of thing. We want to be seen as a good family club.”

The video footage describes the group as “Ben, Craig, Ginger, Dano, Dai, and Betsy” being filmed by Anthony.

Fortunately the video has been removed due to terms of use violation!

Bikkembergs - FC Fossombrone

Bikkembergs FC Fossombrone is the football team bought and sponsored by the Belgian designer Dirk Bikkembergs. Playing in the Italian amateur leagues, FC Fossombrone’s goal is to get into the Serie D. What’s unique about this club is the way that they are sponsored by Dirk Bikkembergs design company.

FC Fossombrone have been completely decked out in Bikkembergs kit, from football boots, to team kit, training gear and casual after game clothing. Bikkembergs has developed the apparel with extreme detail, for instance each kit is carefully crafted and unique in its cut, just like a haute couture garment. The post match wear is also interesting. Discarding the traditional blazer and tie look, in favour of jeans and leather jackets, made to look like a tracksuit top.

Bikkembergs Bix football boots were developed with the assistance of the FC Fossombrone team, who tested the football boots and gave feedback during the research and development phase.

Dirk said “What’s been going on at Fossombrone has attracted the attention of a lot of young people, who now see me as their hope for a serious future as a professional in this sport. I’ve begun to dream of one day organising a multi-ethnic world cup for young non-professional players”.

The Bikkembergs Bix football boots, are a traditionally built pair of boots, with a modern design.

Bikkembergs Bix football boots are a uniquely styled football boot, available in silver and blue, or silver and red colourways, for the current season. They also have two versions, one with 12 bi-density polyurethane moulded studs, the other with 6 screw in studs.

Performance: The upper is made of Kangaroo leather, as always, durable and good for the touch. The Kangaroo leather is water repellent helping the football boot to resist water and reducing weight during competitive play. The lacing cover provides a clean strike surface and increases sensitivity to the ball. The leather tongue, with the elastic band gives the neck of the foot more wrapping and protection. The silk screen which is found on the circle design, not only provides aesthetic value, it carries a practical function of enhanced ball control due to the grip print that was used in its application.

Comfort: The shape of the Bix football boot follows the anatomy of the foot, with a glove style cut making it a very comfortable. The shell protecting the heel is made of natural thermoform rubber and was designed to eliminate the problem of blisters. With the inner lining made of antibacterial nylon 420.

Players: Ludovic Giuly and the entire FC Fossombrone team.

Price: Approximately £160 (240 Euro’s).

Verdict: As this is not a mainstream football boot, the Bikkembergs Bix football boot will certainly help you stand out from the crowd. A nice fusion of traditional build with modern design. The price tag will prevent the football boot from being a regular in the amateur leagues.

Using his artistic design flair ,and the experience of a specialist company. Dirk Bikkemberg has designed a football boot to help young fooballers on their way.

“I didn’t want to follow the current futuristic trend,but asked myself a simple question: What does a kid need to play football? Two fundamental things, studs that allow agility on the field and a football boot that covers the foot like a glove. I made some stylistic refreshments and did some psychological gymnastics and created a modern reinterpretation of the best of the beginnings of the sport”, explains the Belgian designer.

His boots though ‘deluxe’, are back to basics, no futuristic forms or hi-tech materials, just kangaroo skin and exquisite handiwork.

On sale for a year at a time ‘Bix’ the name for these football boots, can be purchased in either silver and blue or silver and red. Made in Italy, they come with a transparent sole bearing the “pupino” logo of Bikkembergs Sport and the front part of the upper with the distinctive circles, ‘a symbol of energy and power’, that characterises the kit of Dirk’s team, FC Fossombrone.

“This is my homage to my team, which we used to test the football boot throughout the twelve months of work required to produce it. But for me, this project is also a challenge and a ticket to make my entrance on the actual field of play. I want to show the kids that my interest in the sport is real and I wanted to make something they can really use”.

The Reebok Pro Rage football boots launch Reebok straight into the premier league of top level football boots.

With the recent hype attached to Reebok’s football boot sponsorship agreements with Thierry Henry and Andriy Shevchenko, the Pro Rage has been one of this years most eagerly awaited football boots.

Performance: Weighing in at 9.35 oz, this is a light football boot. This lightweight football boot has a micro synthetic upper, with a hidden lace system aiding control and maximising the strike area. The external TPU heel count increases stability, support and protection. The inside of the heel has a Griptonite anti slip coating that grips the foot and prevents boot slippage.

Available in 3 different soleplates, 12 stud moulded, 6 screw in studs or the variable blades.

Comfort: The one piece foot liner and elasticated Neoprene inner cradles the foot snugly for the ultimate comfort and touch of the football. The sockliner includes an anti friction fabric which reduces heat and moisture, reducing blistering.

Colours Available: Black/Copper

Price: from £72

Verdict: Fantastic price for a professional football boot. The Reebok Pro Rage football boot is set to be a mainstream winner.

Order Thierry Henry’s football boots here

Football Boots Worn By Transferred Players

Yesterday was transfer deadline day. Here is a roundup of the highlights, including the football boots being worn by the players on the move…

If you want to add any other recently transferred players, then add them in the comment section below.

Arsenal

William Gallas - football boots Nike Total 90 Supremacy Order Here
Julio Baptista - football boots Nike Total 90 Supremacy Order Here

Chelsea

Ashley Cole - football boots Adidas +F50 TUNiT
(currently training with England in the Adidas 7406)

Tottenham

Pascal Chimbonda - football boots Adidas +F50 TUNiT
Steed Malbranque - football boots Adidas +Predator Absolute

West Ham

Javier Mascherano - football boots Nike Total 90 Supremacy Order Here
Carlos Tevez - football boots Nike Air Legend