The new Real Madrid [home] kit stands out for its sleek design. Gold is the chosen color for the details, including the adidas logo and the three stripes; a brand new feature which represents the many successes in the clubs history. For the first time since its foundation, the club has decided to include gold in the design of its uniforms. Players’ names and numbers will be golden too, matching the details on the jersey.

Kaka' in the 2011 Real Madrid Home kit

The badge has an innovative 3-D design, which reduces the weight of the garment, giving it an added feature. This jersey gets back to the classic polo collar, which carries the initials of the club on the reverse side.

Shorts and socks have the same classic lines as the jersey and include the  initials of the club:”RM”.  This jersey features adidas’ exclusive Climacool(tm) Technology which ensures body temperature control and ventilation, thanks to the use of technically advanced fabrics.

Chelea’s away kit includes turquoise squares are on a black background to create a striking design, while the shorts also feature a turquoise strip and the famous three adidas stripes in white. The socks include a revolutionary design that features anatomically placed cushioning and an Achilles protector.  The playing shirt features the adidas TechFit(tm) technology which will help
improve speed, increased endurance capabilities and enhanced awareness. This works by stabilizing and focusing the muscles’ energy to generate explosive acceleration and deliver maximum power output.

Frank Lampard in the Chelsea FC 2011 Away Kit

The replica shirt incorporates adidas Climacool(tm) technology, a mixture of  heat and moisture controlling materials, ventilation channels and 3D fabrics which improve air flow to the skin in the key heat zones.

The new kit will be worn for the first time when Chelsea play Hong Kong champions Kitchee in their opening game of the Barclays Asia Trophy on July 27.

Mark Van Bommel, Clarence Seedorf and Luca Antonini

See below for the official release:

Somewhere between innovation and tradition, true to the style of adidas and AC Milan – for the 2011/12 jersey, the three-stripe label has decided to combine its most innovative technology with a design reminiscent of the Rossoneri strips of the early twentieth century.

The launch, too, was structured along the same lines – journalists from the traditional media and bloggers gathered at adidas Italy’s Brand Center in Monza but Milan fans from across Italy and the world were also able to attend the unveiling of the new strip and to ask the guests in attendance questions by means of live streaming at adidas.com.

Guests at the event

• Adriano Galliani – CEO and Vice President of AC Milan
• Salem Obaidalla, – Senior Vice President Commercial Operations (Europe and Russian Federation) of Emirates
• Jean Michel Granier – CEO of adidas Italy

The star models of the new kit were Rossoneri players Clarence Seedorf, Mark Van Bommel and Luca Antonini.  The event was hosted by familiar television personality, and avid AC Milan fan, Daniele Bossari.  The strip will be worn for the first time on May 15th for the penultimate game of the league against Cagliari.

Design of the strip

AC Milan Jersey

• Reverting once again to the thinner 2cm-wide stripes compared to the 9cm-wide ones of last year
• There are 21 stripes in total, 11 of which are black and 10 red
• The white crew neck stands out with three stripes on the sleeves, which are white for the first time, on a red inset
• The back of the collar bears the words “Associazione Calcio Milan” underneath the Italian flag to highlight the fact that Milan is one of the best-known symbols of Italy around the world
• Reference to the colors of the Italian flag can be found on the insets at the sides on the front of the shirt as well as on the shorts
  and socks

Technology:

Next season, AC Milan players will be able to choose whether to wear the TECHFIT(tm) PowerWEB uniform as a single layer or
whether to wear the base layers under the FORMOTION(tm) uniform, which has a traditional fit.

TECHFIT(tm) PowerWEB is the most innovative technology used for sportswear. Thanks to the use of special compression fabrics and the application of TPU strips at specific areas of the body, the TECHFIT(tm) layers are able to concentrate muscular energy to the maximum to give the athlete explosive power, acceleration and resistance, whilst reducing muscle vibration, improving the athlete’s posture, the feel of their body and level of core stability in order to guarantee not just any performance but record-breaking performance.  Worn all together (shirt, shorts and socks), the TECHFIT(tm) PowerWEB kit is able to increase players’ power by 5.3%*, their jump height by 4%*, their sprinting speed by 1.1%* and their efficiency by 0.8%*.   adidas TECHFIT(tm) PowerWEB kits, worn as a single layer, are 45% lighter than the classic two-piece kit worn together.

The ForMotion(tm) strip sees the use of three-dimensional and elastic fabrics which adapt perfectly to the body of the player and subsequently improve the fit of the
strip in order to optimize movement, comfort and increase freedom of action.  The addition of adidas ClimaCool(tm) and adidas FlowMapping(tm) ensures optimum breathability and helps the Rossoneri players to maintain an ideal body temperature, even under pressure.

adidas is the leading brand in world football and provides the official ball for all major tournaments organised by UEFA, FIFA and the IOC. The partnership between adidas and AC Milan is one of the most solid and long-lasting relationships – having begun in 1998, it has been renewed up until 2017 with an extension to the rights as
Master licensee. A new feature is to be added to the many synergies already in place, from the Milan Junior Camp to the activities which help to make Fondazione Milan projects a reality.

Project Pink is a line of products by Puma that supports Breast Cancer Research.  The line was first seen with the WPS.

Calle Republic always has the coolest clothes.  The dead pigeon guys have done it again with their latest.  We tested these a while ago and they are still favorites.

Pele Sports is the newest member of our family.  They are a new company that is combining old school looks with modern design.

There are a lot more pictures and products from all of these companies.  Check out our Facebook page for the pictures and check in with ASER for the reviews.  Let us know which items are must haves and which are passes.

My name is Jason.  I am 21 years old, and I am from Cookeville, TN.  Soccer has been my absolute passion for my entire life.  I cannot get enough of it.  I strongly doubt I have gone more than one day without touching a ball in the last 10 years of my life.  I have had many crazy and interesting experiences throughout my soccer career.  These have made me both a better player and a better person. Soccer is more than just a passion for me. Soccer is my life, and I don’t know how I could live any other way.

My entire life I have had to deal with a problem that most soccer players around the world don’t have to.  I am from a small town in the USA and almost nobody plays [here].  I don’t know how many times I have been at the park and seen tons of people playing and doing activities, but I am the only one there with a soccer ball.  It is really kind of depressing at times, but I have fought through it.  I constantly practice my skills by juggling and other individual drills.  I quickly became interested in freestyle which has opened up many opportunities for me.  I have been a competitor in the Red Bull Street Style National Finals for the last two years.  I was a part of the Burger King Futbol Kingdom team as well.  These have been fabulous experiences.

The other thing that I have done to find ways to play the sport I love is to play with the different immigrants that are in the area.  I have played with people from all around the world here in Tennessee. For the most part, American soccer players [in Tennessee] consist of immigrants and their children.  I am the exception being a normal [small town] American.  I have played in numerous Hispanic mens leagues being the only white person on the field.  These experiences have brought good and bad.  I was constantly taunted as “gringo” and other negative names for whites, but I also was able to make many friends.  This helped me to learn conversational Spanish, and it was one of the main reasons I decided to study Spanish in College.  I have also played with groups of Africans and various Europeans. The cultural differences do not matter when we are on the field.  We are all united under the one passion for the game.  It definitely helped me realize that all people are basically the same no matter what ethnic group or where they are from.  It doesn’t get any cooler to know that our backgrounds mean nothing when we are on the field together.

AVID Soccer Player Award presented by Calle Republic

Futebol e minha vida.  This is a term I was taught by Brazilians that means soccer is my life.  It’s something I’ll live by forever.  Soccer is just absolutely the most unifying force that exist in the world, and it is a passion that exists for millions in every country.

The new brand offers a large selection of Pele inspired products designed to meet the different needs of players. The personality and philosophy of the football idol Pelé is integrated into every product and Pelé himself has shared his experiences as a player to inspire and educate the product development team. The result is a product line that offers a wide selection for the individual tastes of an 11-a-side player, a small sided specialist or a fashion conscious supporter – Pelé Sports combines premium product quality with an optimum price-performance ratio.

The Performance Category

The excellent quality of the Performance shoe is guaranteed by the unique product development: product design specialists work closely with a network of biomechanics and podiatrists to create the best shoe for each different need.
The design has a great deal of Pelé recognition: 1958, 1962 and 1970 – the years Pelé won the World Cup title – are the model names and are found as a detail on the boots’ cleats, while number “10″ – Pelé’s famous jersey number – is integrated into the creative graphic design on the heel instep and outsole.

The result is a Futebol bonito experience that will be accessible to the ambitious 11-a-side footballers.

• A reinforced heel area for better support.
• An EVA midsole for more absorption and to prevent, among other things, problems with the Achilles heel.
• A special cleat configuration to absorb pressure better and a special cleat shape to reduce the pressure on the knee when the player pivots.
• The upper material is kangaroo leather with Dual Friction Technology for more grip on the ball.
• Dual Friction is used from the start in the processing of the leather and guarantees a long-lasting grip.
• Kangaroo leather is extremely durable and tear-resistant, and yet supple – it wraps around and hugs the individual shape of the foot perfectly. Available in black (with yellow decorative stitching), and white (with red decorative stitching).
• Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: 170 EUR / $ 160

A top of the line model, the 1970 is a football boot that you’ve never seen before; combining function with attention to detail. The 1970 FG MS (Black) and 1970 SG MS (White) boots both provide the football player with a perfect balance between performance, comfort, cushioning, stability, and design.

The Pelada Category

Pelé Sports products will not only appeal to ambitious club football players – they will also appeal to everyone who plays football, regardless of where they play and what team they play with. The products assimilate the characteristics of football as well as the individuality of each and every player.

Pelada is the category that features the appropriate kit for a footballer’s personal style and honors the origins of Pelé, who learned how to play football in the streets of Brazil. Whether they’re playing organized futsal, or playing on a small field, at the beach, in a municipal park, or in a parking lot – all you need for Futebol bonito are one ball and two players, and the game can begin!

The Pelé Story Category

Pelé – the IOC Athlete of the Century – is not only lending his name to Pelé Sports, but he is also closely involved with the brand. That’s reason enough to give the best footballer of all time a fitting fashion stage for his lifestyle line – Pelé Story. This collection is unique in that it features some of the most famous football experiences associated with Pelé ,the celebrated “bicycle kick” for example, but also elements of his life that are less known, like his experience as an outstanding goalkeeper. Featuring fashionable sportswear, the Pelé Story is for anyone who identifies with football and the philosophy of Futebol bonito – and, of course, for everyone who admires Pelé.

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About Pelé Sports

Feeling and technique are the two qualities that reflect Pelé Sports: The brand philosophy combines the legendary Brazilian enthusiasm for playing football, along with top products that are designed to completely satisfy a footballer’s every demand. The inspiration of the football legend Pelé,, who is also directly involved in product development, can be felt in every product: Futebol bonito, regardless of who you are and where and how you play. This desire is combined with an outstanding price-performance ratio. The P-Sports company was founded in 2009 and has its US headquarters in Aspen, Colorado. A selected team of product design specialists and football experts are managing the international launch of the Pele Sports brand under license in June 2010. Sales and distribution through selected specialist sports stores will start with a mixture of the brand’s own marketing and distribution subsidiaries and selected distribution partners. www.pele-sports.com

Over the past few years, they have watching the way people play, dress and live the street game.  That is definitely influencing the way there gear has evolved.  We hear rumors that they are creating a new “street” image that will be separated from both the grass pitch and indoor gear.  We have seen some of of this in the fantastic Rilo street shoes (see the ASER review) and the new Smooth Criminal ball.  The next step is clothes that are unique to the street look.

The marketing folks at most of the manufacturers usually make sure AVID Soccer knows about any big release.  Calle has been holding this one very close to the vest.  They wouldn’t even give us pictures for the big contest giveaway… until now.

Calle Republic Prize Package

We just received samples of the prize package that Calle is providing.  It will be a custom package for the contest winner and includes some of their newest and hottest looks from their collection.  They sent us a florescent green Smooth Criminal ball, ladies Lox v-neck, FTP and Antram tees for the guys, a new ball sack (our favorite light bag) and the Willow shorts.  The ball and shorts are a complete departure from what Calle has done before.  Look for reviews on ASER in the next few weeks.

Want some of this cool swag for yourself?  Get your contest entry in soon.

Enter the contest at AVID Soccer (http://www.avidsoccer.com/2010_contest.aspx) or on the AVID Soccer Facebook page.

PORTLAND, Ore. – March 25, 2010

adidas TECHFIT: Chicago Fire (front)

adidas TECHFIT: DC United (back)

Until recently, TECHFIT PowerWeb has been more commonly worn under a player’s uniform as compression apparel; but the new adidas MLS uniforms offer TECHFIT built into the actual jersey giving players the benefits of TECHFIT in a single layer.

“At adidas we are all about equipping athletes with the most innovative gear and apparel on the planet,” said Antonio Zea, Director of Soccer, adidas America. “With TECHFIT now built into their jerseys, we are helping athletes from Chicago Fire, D.C. United and LA Galaxy play to their highest potential and we look forward to watching them perform at the top of their game this season.”

TECHFIT PowerWeb is a cutting edge athletic apparel technology that improves muscular endurance and responsiveness, and reduces muscle vibration, ultimately maximizing the athlete’s performance. Through the use of compression fabrics and strategically placed TPU (Thermoplastic Urethane) bands, located in key areas to enhance muscle power, TECHFIT is proven to increase a player’s power by 5.3 percent^*, vertical leap by 4 percent^*, sprint speed by 1.1 percent* and enhance endurance by 0.8 percent^*.

The TECHFIT jersey as worn by the players on the pitch will be specially packaged and retail for $150 starting in July.

adidas TECHFIT: LA Galaxy (detail)

All other MLS teams will wear the adidas FORMOTION uniform. FORMOTION is engineered to move naturally with the athlete’s body resulting in an ideal fit and comfort while in motion. It also features adidas CLIMACOOL technology which combines a moisture wicking fabric and mesh construction in the player’s highest heat zones to improve body ventilation and keep the athlete at optimum temperature. The FORMOTION uniform is designed to partner with traditional TECHFIT PowerWeb compression apparel.

adidas, the number one soccer brand in the world, is the official athletic sponsor and licensed product supplier to MLS. adidas TECHFIT PowerWeb uniforms will also be worn this summer at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. adidas will outfit 12 federations at the 2010 FIFA World Cup – more than any other brand – with the ultimate in personalized soccer uniform kits. Federations with the option of TECHFIT uniforms include South Africa, Argentina, Mexico, Japan, Spain, Germany and France.

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While we at AVID Soccer cannot substantiate the performance claims, they do seem reasonable.  The most dramatic example of this was the Speedo swimsuits worn in the last Summer Games  The reduced vibration will not have the same effect in the air that it does in the water, but it will focus the players energy.  From personal observation, we have found that compression clothing not only helps with endurance, but improves recovery.

^* Proven research from adidas Global Research and the University of Calgary.

Winners are selected in each category based on value, quality and desirability.  Other criterion is category specific.  Winners are selected by a combination of votes from editors, testers and readers.  Details are available at http://blog.avidsoccer.com.

The Best of 2009 are:

• Coolest Lifestyle Product – Nominees include Nike’s Holland Anthem Jacket, the adidas Hero Hoodie.  The winner is the Calle Republic Rilo street shoe.  Calle one over great products from adidas and Nike by creating a shoe ideally suited to the soccer lifestyle and street soccer.
• Best Boot – Nominees include the adidas Predator X and Puma v1.10.  The winner is the Concave PT+.  Any of these boots could have finished first and there was a strong argument for each.  In the end, better grass roots support for the Concave PT+ pushed it ahead of the competition.
• Best Ball – Nominees include the adidas Jabulani and Nike Ascente.  Both are world class professional quality balls, but we selected the value priced (relatively speaking) Puma King XL as our winner.
• Best Kit – Nominees include the Sarson Bonn and adidas Russian National team kit.  The winner is a balance between high quality and value in the Diadora Ermano.
• Innovative Product of the Year – The first nomination for our most important award go to the Woman’s Professional Soccer league for changing the way soccer franchises are marketed in the US.  The second nomination goes to Lotto Team Sports for changing the way uniforms are designed and produced.  Our winner is the Concave striking plate.  It changes the way we think about hitting the ball.  The Concave striking patch may be the equivalent to the oversized golf club.

About AVID Soccer:

AVID Soccer is a grass roots organization that provides information and training to individual players, groups and teams. AVID Soccer consists of coaches and trainers dedicated to improving the image of soccer; the level of training; and the level of play.  http://www.avidsoccer.com

The AVID Soccer Equipment Review (ASER), one of the largest independent review sites, provides objective testing services, reviews and information on soccer equipment and related products. The AVID Soccer Equipment review web log was founded in March 2006.  http://blog.avidsoccer.com

AVID Soccer News presents product announcements, player gossip, team transfers, lifestyle, etc. In short, we present the news and views of the soccer world. Articles are compiled from original content, press releases and reprinted publications.  http://news.avidsoccer.com

Each year, the ASER writers, testers and editor select the products that provide the best overall experience.  That is defined as a balance between quality, desirability and value.

… and the nominee for best…

• Best Boot
  • adidas Predator X
  • Concave PT+
  • Puma v1.10
• Best Ball
  • adidas Jabulani
  • Puma King XL
  • Nike Total 90 Ascente
• Best Kit
  • adidas Russian Federation WC Kit
  • Diadora Ermano
  • Sarson Bonn
• Coolest Lifestyle Product
  • adidas Lampard Hooded Jacket
  • Calle Republic Rilo Street Shoe
  • Nike Holland Anthem Track Jacket
• Most Innovative Product
  • Lotto Team Sport custom jersey system
  • Concave striking plate
  • Women’s Professional Soccer League

Voting opens January 1st.  To vote, click on one of the links above and add your comments or send email to the Review Desk.  Voting will close January 22.  Winners will be announced the following week.

For the first time in soccer history, adidas has created a kit giving players such as Lionel Messi, Michael Ballack, Andres Guardado, Steven Pienaar and Xavi the opportunity to select a combination of technology, fit and comfort from 22 different jersey combinations.  The new range will ensure players look unified in their team design while also providing a freedom to choose a preferred fit and technology.

One of the selection options is the TECHFIT PowerWeb jersey.  Until recently, TECHFIT PowerWeb has been more commonly worn under a player’s uniform as compression apparel; but the new adidas kits offer TECHFIT built into the actual jersey giving players a performance advantage in a single layer.

TECHFIT PowerWEB is a cutting edge athletic apparel design that reduces muscle vibration to maximize power, acceleration and endurance.  Through the use of compression fabrics and applied TPU bands in specific areas, TECHFIT is proven to increase a player’s power by 5.3 per cent*, vertical leap by 4 percent*, sprint speed by 1.1 per cent* and enhance endurance by 0.8 per cent*.   The adidas 2010 FIFA World Cup TECHFIT jerseys worn as a single layer are 45 percent lighter than wearing two pieces together.

The second 2010 FIFA World Cup jersey option is the FORMOTION uniform, which features optimised garment construction with sculpted sleeve openings to accommodate maximum freedom of movement.  It also features adidas CLIMACOOL technology which combines a moisture wicking fabric and mesh construction in the player’s highest heat zones to improve body ventilation and keep the athlete at optimum temperature.  The FORMOTION uniform is designed to partner with traditional TECHFIT PowerWEB compression apparel.

The TECHFIT jersey as worn by the players on the pitch will retail for $150 and the authentic replica jersey will retail for $70.

adidas, the number one soccer brand in the world, is the official FIFA sponsor, supplier and licensee of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.  A rich product portfolio designed for the 2010 FIFA World Cup will include innovative footwear, apparel and hardware including the Official Match Ball which will be unveiled on December 4^th, 2009 in Capetown, South Africa at the Official World Cup Draw Show.  The adidas/FIFA partnership has been in existence since 1970.

* Proven research from adidas Global Research and the University of Calgary.

About 31 percent of the plastic bottles produced in the U.S. are made from Polyethylene Terephthalate (P.E.T.), and more than 45 billion of those containers were dumped in U.S. landfills in 2006. Recycling P.E.T. by re-melting it and extruding it as new fiber saves raw materials and reduces the number of plastic bottles going into landfills. The Diadora Terra Verde line, comprised of a Jersey/Short Kit and a polo shirt, is made with durable, eco-friendly RETHINK fabric. RETHINK is made of 100 percent recycled polyester derived from used soft drink and water bottles. In fact, the Terra Verde Jersey is made from 14 recycled water bottles.

“We are very proud to lead the way in the U.S. soccer community with the first eco-friendly soccer uniform,” said Bill Nuttall, President of Golden Viking Sports, LLC, the licensee of Diadora soccer footwear, apparel and accessories in the U.S. “In addition to the sleek Italian styling that the market has come to expect, our customers can now look to Diadora to provide innovative, performance-driven, environmentally conscious apparel.”

The Diadora Terra Verde Jersey is retail priced at $34.00, the short is $26.00 and the polo shirt is $48. The polo shirt is currently available and the Kit will be available in February 2010. Other garments will be added to the line for Spring 2011. At present, all apparel in the Terra Verde line is unisex, but gender-specific pieces will be added in the future. Sizing for the Kit ranges from Youth Small through Adult XL, and the polo shirt is available in Adult sizes Small through XL.  Distribution for Terra Verde apparel will target team dealers and soccer specialty stores.

Golden Viking Sports, LLC is the official U.S. licensee of Diadora footwear, apparel and accessories for soccer. Based in Kent, WA, the company is proud to continue the Diadora brand’s 26-year tradition of providing superior products and services to the American soccer market.

Source: Press Release

Over at our sister publication, the AVID Soccer Equipment Review (ASER), the first summer shoot-out has been published.  This year, they compared a complete player kit including the jersey, shorts, socks, track suit and bag.  Diadora came to the table with true Italian style and top flight quality.  Sarson was no slouch either.  They brought functional quality and solid value to the game.

The first category for comparison was functionality.  Sarson pulled ahead with a better breathing uniform and a backpack instead of a game bag.  However, the design details of the Diadora warm-ups were far superior to the Sarson bits.  This showed experience and attention to detail that only comes from playing in the gear.

The quality, fit and finish measures all went to Diadora.  At nearly twice the price, this isn't surprising.  Price was not part of the comparison, so the value of the Sarson kit was not factored into the ratings.

Finally, the packages were judged on style and desirability.  Again, Diadora won hands down.  The Sarson uniform earned points, but Diadora was the complete package.

For more details, visit the AVID Soccer Equipment Review and check out all of the gear.