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SoccerPro.com Featured on NBC’s TODAY Show…(Video)
Jul 24th
Big congratulations are in order for our friends over at SoccerPro.com after getting a shout out from Mario Armstrong on the TODAY Show. Mario Armstrong is a Digital Life and Style Expert and has won an Emmy for his work over the years on various media outlets. He gave a pretty sweet run down of some the coolest products and gear coming out for this years Olympics in London, including osme soccer gear provide by SoccerPro.com. Check out the clip below.
Bring the Olympics home with toys, technology
Written by: Matthew Wall, editor, soccerprose.com
Revealed: Nike Manchester United Core Hoody – Dark Grey
Jul 19th
Even though it is summer, it is never too early to start preparing for the cold weather when the EPL and Champions League are at their best. One thing to help Manchester United fans prepare for the cold weather is the Nike Manchester United core hoody. This hoody is extremely comfortable and looks great.
Style
This hoody is predominantly dark gray that looks sleek. On the right sleeve it has a black and red stripe to help tie in the teams colors and add a little style. As the name suggests, there is a hood on this and a front pocket to help shield you from the elements and keep your hands and head warm. The Manchester United crest is stitched on the left chest and the Nike swoosh is stitched in red on the right chest.
Feel
In addition to looking great, this hoody also feels great. It is made of French terry, which keeps you warm, but also allows your body to breathe. This hoody runs true to size, so you will not have to worry about sizing issues. Also, the sleeve cuffs and hood on the back are not constricting like other hooded sweatshirts so you will not be uncomfortable while wearing this great looking hoody.
Overall
If you are a fan of Manchester United, this hoody is a great piece of apparel to pick up. It is extremely comfortable and will keep you warm during the winter months when the EPL season and Champions League are in full force. This hoody is currently available at SoccerPro.com, so check it out today.
Written By: Eric Stoyanov, Contributing Writer, soccerprose.com
Revealed: Warrior Liverpool Away Jersey 2012/13
Jul 19th
Over the summer, Warrior took over as the official Liverpool jersey and apparel supplier, ending the clubs relationship with Adidas. Since the takeover occurred, fans have been anxiously awaiting the debut of the clubs new jerseys and Warrior did not disappoint with the home and away Liverpool jerseys. Today, we are going to take a closer look at the new Warrior Liverpool away jersey. It looks great and has a bit of history to the design.
Style
According to the Liverpool official team store, “the new kit is inspired by Liverpool FC’s away kit from 1900-1906 which featured a yoke detail in recognition of sailors and the huge influence of the docks on the city at the time.” This jersey is predominantly black with gray around the top of the front of the jersey and around the bottom of the back of the jersey. It also has gray under the arms, going down the side. Similar to the Warrior Liverpool home jersey, the Liverpool badge and Warrior logo are gold and stitched on the chest. Also, Standard Chartered remains the team’s sponsor and is pressed on the front of the jersey.
Feel
This jersey not only looks great, but also is extremely comfortable. It is made of 100 percent polyester. It also features War-Tech fabric, which is extremely comfortable and soft. It allows sweat and moisture to leave your body to keep you dry and comfortable while cheering on your favorite team. This jersey runs true to size, so you will not need to worry about weird sizing issues when ordering online.
Overall
Warrior has done a nice job creating a classy jersey that looks great and ties in some history. Liverpool has switched managers and jersey manufacturers this summer and is hoping these changes will lead them back to success on the field. This jersey is currently available on SoccerPro.com, so head there today and pick one up.
Written By: Eric Stoyanov, Contributing Writer, soccerprose.com
Move Over Manchester City, There is a New Big Spender in Town
Jul 17th
Move over Manchester City, there is a new big spender in town. After Qatar Investment Authority gained sole control over Paris Saint-Germain, the club has been on a major spending spree. So far, PSG has spent over $122.7 million during this transfer period.
The first of the major signings was Ezequiel Lavezzi from Napoli. The Argentine international cost $38 million and will be joining fellow Argentine international Javier Pastore. It seems as though Pastore is happy to have Lavezzi join the Paris club. According to Yahoo! Sports, Pastore said, “I got to know him in national team, and his coming here has made me very happy. It’s certain that he will bring us a lot going forward, and that is decisive for us.”
This week, the other major signings were finished for PSG. They were able to buy the services of both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva from AC Milan. The duo cost PSG over $75 million and Ibrahimovic will make $18.4 million annually. This will make Ibrahimovic the highest paid player in Ligue 1. The addition of these two players is a huge boost for PSG and a massive loss for AC Milan. Ibrahimovic was the leading scoring in Serie A last season, scoring 28 goals in the AC Milan jersey. PSG will be hoping he keeps this goal-scoring record up in his new league.
The upcoming season will provide a large challenge for PSG. Last season, PSG finished second in Ligue 1, three points behind Montpellier, and will be playing in the Champions League this upcoming season. Therefore, these players will need to bring their A game immediately so that PSG will be able to compete in the Champions League. Something positive that PSG will be able to rely on is experience in the Champions League. They now have Thiago Silva, Thiago Motta, Alex, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ezequiel Lavezzi, who all have experience in the Champions League that will be extremely helpful for PSG to compete and possibly go far in the tournament.
On a less positive note, Manchester City showed that it takes more than money to assemble a team that can win the Champions League. Similar to PSG, Manchester City has paid an outrageous amount of money to bring in players and create an elite team. However, the men in Manchester City jerseys failed to make it out of the group stage in the Champions League.
One thing is certain; PSG will be a fun team to watch during the upcoming season. They have put together a team full of talented players and it will be interesting to see how the players gel on the field. It will also be fun to watch them play against the best players in Europe in the Champions League.
Written By: Eric Stoyanov, Contributing Writer, soccerprose.com
Revealed: Nike Arsenal Home Jersey 2012/13
Jul 13th
It’s been an up and down summer for Arsenal fans. Arsenal has just signed Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud but could be losing captain Robin Van Persie. After a rough start to the Premier League last season, the Gunners will be looking to get off to a better start this season and will need the two new signings to produce goals. With the new season, Arsenal will be wearing a new Nike Arsenal home jersey and it looks great.
Style
Arsenal has a classic jersey design that is hard to change. They have red through the front with white on the sleeves. The teams new design keeps the red and white as with previous generations but Nike have added a red and blue stripe on each sleeve to give a little extra style. Personally, I think it looks great. Instead of just having the same old thing season after season, the addition of the stripes on the sleeves is subtle but gives some more style to these jerseys. Fly Emirates remains the team’s sponsor and their logo is pressed on the center of the jersey with the Arsenal crest stitched on the left chest. Another nice subtle feature on this jersey is the AFC that is pressed on the back of the jersey so people can see where your loyalty stands as you are walking away.
Feel
This jersey is made out of 100 percent polyester and features Nike Dri-Fit. The combination of both provides you with a light jersey that will keep you dry and comfortable as you cheer Arsenal to victory. This jersey runs true to size, so you will not have to worry about sizing issues when ordering online.
Overall
The new Arsenal jersey looks great and is very comfortable. The blue and red stripes on the sleeves add some new style to a classic jersey design. Even if Arsenal are unable to keep Van Persie, Arsenal will be looking for a top finish and this is a great jersey to wear as you cheer your team on. These are currently available on SoccerPro.com, so head there today and pick one up.
Written By: Eric Stoyanov, Contributing Writer, soccerprose.com
Revealed: Adidas Chelsea Away Jersey 2012/13
Jul 12th
Chelsea continues to come out with one quality jersey after another. The newest jersey the London club has unveiled is the new Adidas Chelsea away jersey. The team will be wearing this great looking jersey as they look to repeat as Champions League winners.
Style
The new Chelsea away jersey is predominantly white with a light blue sash that goes diagonally across the front of the jersey. It also features navy around the collar and the sleeve cuffs. A nice feature that Adidas has put on this jersey is the three stripes going down the sleeve. Instead of just featuring a solid color, Adidas has decided to transition from navy to light blue as the three stripes go down the sleeve. It looks great and ties in the colors of the jersey. The Chelsea crest is stitched on the left chest of the jersey with the Samsung sponsor logo pressed on the center of the jersey.
Feel
This jersey is made of 100 percent polyester, which is light and comfortable. All Adidas jerseys feature climacool technology. This allows your body to breathe in order to keep you cool and comfortable as you cheer on Chelsea to victory. This jersey also runs true to size, so you will not have to worry about weird sizing issues if you order online.
Overall
Right now is a good time to be a Chelsea fan. Your team just won the Champions League title and Adidas keeps producing quality jerseys for your side. This new away jersey uses great colors and the end product looks great. This jersey is currently available at SoccerPro.com, so head there and pick one up today.
Written By: Eric Stoyanov, Contributing Writer, soccerprose.com
Revealed: Nike Inter Milan Away Jersey 2012/13
Jul 12th
Inter Milan had a down season last season, finishing in sixth in Serie A. Wesley Sneijder and company will be looking to get Inter back into the Serie A title hunt and the Champions League this season. One jersey fans will be seeing a lot of is the new Nike Inter Milan away jersey. This jersey looks great and should be a fan favorite.
Style
Inter Milan does not normally switch their jersey colors up very much. The Nike Inter Milan home jersey always features black and blue vertical stripes and their away jersey the past two seasons has been white. That is why this new away jersey is a nice change of pace. It is predominantly red with blue and black on the sleeves to maintain the clubs colors. The red helps the jersey to stand out more and will give fans a different color jersey to add to their Inter Milan jersey collection. The Inter Milan crest is stitched on the left chest and the Pirelli sponsor is pressed on the center of the jersey.
Feel
This jersey is made of 100 percent polyester, which is extremely light and comfortable. It is also made of recycled material, so it is environmentally friendly. As with all Nike jerseys, this one features Nike Dri-Fit material. This will help keep you dry and comfortable as you support your team.
Overall
This is a great looking jersey that will add something new to Inter Milan fans jersey collection. The red looks great and the black and blue on the sleeve help tie this in with their home jersey. This Inter Milan away jersey is currently available at SoccerPro.com, so check it out today.
Written By: Eric Stoyanov, Contributing Writer, soccerprose.com
Revealed: Adidas AC Milan Home Jersey 2012/13
Jul 11th
Ibrahimovic, Robinho, and Pato are looking to lead AC Milan back to the top of Serie A. Juventus narrowly beat AC Milan to claim the Serie A title last season and Milan will want to regain their proper place. If you are an AC Milan fan, right now is the time to gear up for the upcoming season. The new Adidas AC Milan home jersey looks great so you will be able to support your team in style.
Style
With the classic black and red stripes that are associated with AC Milan, it is hard to switch up styles too much. Last season the home jerseys had thin vertical stripes, however, this year Adidas has changed the look to feature thicker vertical stripes and it looks great. The stripes also feature red, white, and green to show the colors of the Italian flag. Another change that has been made is the addition of a white collar to the new home jersey. I am normally not a fan of collars on jerseys because they are uncomfortable, but this collar adds some style to the jersey and is not uncomfortable. Fly Emirates remains the team’s sponsor and is pressed on the center of the jersey with the AC Milan crest stitched on the upper left chest.
Feel
This jersey is made of 100 percent polyester, which makes it both light and comfortable. Also, as with most Adidas jerseys, this one features climacool technology. This helps to keep you cool and comfortable as you cheer your team on to victory. This jersey fits true to size so you do not have to worry about any sizing issues when ordering.
Overall
The new Adidas AC Milan home jersey is a great new take on a classic design. The thick stripes, homage to the Italian flag, and white collar add style and class. It is also extremely light and comfortable so you can enjoy watching your team while remaining comfortable. This jersey is currently available at SoccerPro.com, so check it out today.
Written By: Eric Stoyanov, Contributing Writer, soccerprose.com
Soccer Boots and Sustainability: Why Nike GS Soccer Cleats are the Next Big Thing
Jul 10th
One of the major issues facing manufactures of soccer goods, and the business sector as whole, is the question of sustainability. Its an undeniable fact that as we consume more and more of the Earth’s dwindling resources we will inevitably reach an environmental tipping point. The realization of this fact, has meant environmental and labor organizations have put companies across the globe under pressure to be more socially responsible. The new Nike GS “Green Speed” soccer cleats represent their latest attempt to produce a product that’s environmentally responsible and produced without child labor, and to be honest, it doesn’t look to bad either.
But making a pretty pair of boots like the Nike CTR360 Maestri or Total90 Laser from beans or plastics isn’t enough in its own right to make these shoes the wave of the future, so lets dig a bit deeper. In the early 1990′s Nike, and other major brands, learned a very painful lesson. A global boycott campaign against Nike’s environmental and labor practices was so successful that it has now become an object lesson in how giant corporations can be brought to account by ordinary consumers.
“Nike was targeted by campaigners because it was the world’s best-selling brand and because initially it denied responsibility for any malpractice that may be taking place in its sub-contractor factories,” explains Rob Harrison, editor of Ethical Consumer.
The campaign seriously hurt Nike’s global sales, and as it result it was forced to take responsibility for the practices of the factories and 3rd party suppliers it uses to produce its soccer boots. Today, the Fair Labor Association website states it’s possible to read more than 150 reports of Nike factory inspections conducted by independent third parties. But the point is, if you make a sustainable product, people are more likely to buy it, and you won;t have to spend any money defending yourself from boycotts, and that’s why the Nike GS soccer cleat is the wave of the future.
By making a soccer shoe that’s sustainable, and ethically sound, Nike have left adidas, Puma, and every other soccer brand in their dust. “Green” products are something people want to buy, and ion order to make them you have to develop new materials and technology, which leads to cool new soccer boots like the GS. Nike have made this core part of their growth plans for the next 20 years on a global scale so we can expect to more sweet new boots in the future featuring recycled materials. Try to think of all Nike soccer boots, regardless of silo, in the same way you’d think of any Nike licensed jersey. All the licensed jerseys are made from recycled plastic bottles, and soon all the shoes will be made from recycled materials too. They even have a name, for the new unit that will be focusing on it; The Sustainable Business and Innovation unit.
Adidas and Puma are working on sustainability plans of their own, as you can read here in this adidas document released to their shareholders and obtained exclusively by SoccerProse.com, they are going to have some serious catching up to do to match Nike for one main reason. Adidas and Puma are looking to make their existing products and supply chain more socially responsible, Nike are putting social responsibility at the center of the development of all of their new products with their Considered Design initiative. This will ensure they’ll have the edge on “green” technology for the next few years at least, and I’d look for more product like the Nike GS in the coming year.
Written by: Matthew Wall, editor, soccerprose.com
Sources: http://nikeinc.com/news/nike-inc-introduces-new-targets-elevating-sustainable-innovation-within-business-strategy
http://www.adidas-group.com/en/investorrelations/targets/fyguidance/default.aspx
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/nike-sustainability-report-social-environmental-impact
