That’s right, the titan of an athletic company debuted in 1964 and never looked back from providing soccer players and other athletes with some of the best gear available. Back then, the tiny company operating out of the University of Oregon was known as Blue Ribbon Sports. It started flying under the renowned Nike banner in 1971 when it debuted its first product with the famous “swoosh” logo — a pair of soccer cleats named Nike. And as  you know, the name stuck and now Nike Inc., provides soccer players around the globe with some of the highest performing gear available, from soccer balls to boots and keeper gloves to apparel.

So here’s to thanking Nike for all the gear over its 47 years and wishing the brand a happy anniversary! Come see us over at World Soccer Shop and celebrate the occasion with great deals on Nike products.

One last thing. It’d be unfair to pat Nike on the back for all its great contributions to our beautiful game over the years without mentioning its brilliant adverts. Here’s a few to get you jump-started on the reminiscing. What’s your favorite Nike commercial?

We all love the beautiful game for a laundry list of reasons, but there’s nothing quite as exciting as a brilliantly struck goal! And there’s something to be said for a true golazo in indoor soccer. The goal is smaller, players must operate in tighter spaces, and striking off a hard, flat surface rather than a pitch of grass challenges a player’s control of the ball. These guys, however, weren’t phased at all. We bring you a short collection of some brilliant indoor soccer goals whether from futsal, professional or entirely recreational, as the indoor game was originally intended. Enjoy!

And in the mean time, grab all your essential indoor gear at World Soccer Shop and start creating highlight reels of your own!

You’d think for that poor goalkeeper’s sake the video’s creator could have showed just a few less replays of this goal, eh?

Seriously, is the celebration better than the goal? You be the judge.

That has to be the best rainbow ever pulled off on an indoor court, right?

Incredible footwork and a blistering shot into the roof of the net coupled with a fantastic atmosphere at a Major Indoor Soccer League game? Brilliant all around!

And as we’ve said, recreational games are at the heart of indoor… Umm… Yeah.

Thanks to all the YouTube uploaders!

Futsal, from fútbol sala, is a variation of indoor soccer that’s widely popular in most Hispanic countries. Legend has it the game was created in 1930 Uruguay as a way for temporary YMCA residents to be able to play the beautiful game.

It’s played indoors, sure, but futsal varies greatly from the typical style of indoor soccer. No walls surrounding the court means out of bounds are played, the goals are a mere 3 yards wide by 2 yards tall, and the court is generally smaller. Lastly, the ball itself is smaller than a regular soccer ball and has less bounce. The end result of these features are a particularly quick pace of play and a strict demand of technical ability. That said, Ronaldinho’s play comes as no surprise…

And if Ronaldinho’s magic on the futsal court hasn’t left you inspired, perhaps this stunner will!

Indoor soccer is generally seen for its recreation during those wintry months of the year between seasons when youth players or past-their-primes can lace up their cleatless boots and enjoy the warm, casual version of the game. But surprisingly to some, the professional indoor game actually has a rich history, during which it’s changed quite a bit.

In fact, indoor games were once played in modified skating rinks… back in 1885. Apparently that’s when the first official indoor soccer match took place between Ontario and Newark. Going to back how the game has evolved, that first indoor match featured the offside rule and most restarts coming from the referee tossing the ball up for grabs.

Jump ahead a mere century, and you’ll find the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), the United States‘ first professional indoor league, being founded in 1978. Teams sporadically joined and left the league (for various reasons) during its first tenure until 1992 with 32 total cities at one point having a team, but with no more than 14 teams in the league at a given time. When the National American Soccer League (NASL) folded in ’84, the MISL was the country’s only professional soccer league until it shut down in 1992, and MLS took the spotlight with its debut season the following year.

However since it’s first run, the MISL resumed and continues operation as the country’s premier indoor league with eight teams. Perhaps you’re a devout fan of one of these professional teams, or maybe you’re simply a casual player of the modified game, either way, say your thanks that the indoor game is no longer played on the waxed hardwoods of a customized skating rink!

This German jersey has no fancy color scheme or design. Rather, it’s to the point and all about business, which is what the German national team has always been all about, particularly so in the 1970s.

Really, the only time the German national team isn’t all about business is when it has already taken care of it and has moved on to the celebrating. Like in this photo, for example, where the one and only Der Kaiser, Franz Beckenbauer, cradles the fruits of his team’s labors — the 1974 World Cup trophy.

 
 
That year, the top two teams from four groups were divided into two new groups in the second round. The winner of each of these groups played in the final for title of world champion. Then West Germany dominated its group with three wins while Netherlands also ran the triple in its group over Brazil, Argentina and East Germany.
With the final pair decided, two of the greatest attacking minds in the history of the game were pitted against each other in Dutch Johan Cruyff and German Beckenbauer. The Germans fell behind in the second minute thanks for a solo run from Cruyff, but Der Kaiser rallied his troops to equalize and then nab the eventual match and title winner in the 43rd minute.
Across the 70s with this classic black-and-white strip and Beckenbauer by their sides, the West Germans rarely met defeat in a decade of dominance.

It’s no secret the Dutch national team is one of the best in the world. Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Robin Van Persie, the list goes on. But many fans of the Oranje would likely be happy trade any of those top-shelf players to have Johan Cruyff back on the pitch.

The Dutch forward and midfielder was dominant during the 70s for the Oranje, playing a massive role in the Total Football movement, and will always be known as one of the best attackers to play the game.

Putting it simply, if you’ve got a move named after you, you must been on another level. Maradona can vouch!
The long-sleeves, deep orange and large, emblematic lion are all iconic features of this jersey worn by one of the world’s best back in his day. Johan Cruyff was in a class all of his own.

Few images in the history of the game are more iconic than Maradona celebrating on the washed-out, mid-80s broadcast of the World Cup in those sky blue stripes.
Ironically, the famous moments don’t come from the 1986 World Cup final that Argentina won, but from the tournament’s quarterfinal against England, where two of the game’s best goals were scored by one of the game’s best players.
First Maradona netted the famous “Hand of God” to put Argentina a goal ahead of the English. Keeper Peter Shilton looked to be the favorite at 6’10” when he came out for a bouncing, miscleared ball, but 5’5” Maradona got there first, with his hand, illegally knocking in the go-ahead goal on the world’s biggest stage. Then again, it’s only illegal if the referee calls it, no? After the match, he said that goal was scored “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.”
But the Argentina legend wasn’t done there. Scoring a goal that would be forever coined “The Hand of God” wasn’t enough. He had to score the “Goal of the Century” (as voted in 2002 on FIFA.com, mind you). Maradona controlled the ball at midfield, and after six English challenges and one scintillating, slaloming run, the ball was in the back of the net and engraved in history.
Two victories later, Argentina was crowned champion of the world in high fashion. It didn’t matter if that Argentina national team wore its iconic stripes or the classy solid blue, either way something special was going to happen when they took the pitch.

You don’t get much more retro then these two Arsenal boys — short sleeves, short shorts, feathered hair and a mid-80s mustache. That’s Charlie Nicholas to the right and Viv Anderson below, two of the livelier Gunners during the mid-80s, a period that wasn’t the club’s most fruitful. However the Arsenal squad over these years laid the foundation for one of the club’s most prolific periods during the late 80s and early 90s.

But what a kit, eh! Shockingly short shorts aside, this is what a soccer jersey should look like. It’s the perfect mesh of old and new. Functional, not over the top. Stylish, but not too much flare. It’s the perfect jersey for a player who’s there to play some footy and nothing else. Just ask Mr. Nicholas and Mr. Anderson. They’ll tell you. Most 80s fashion triggers your gag reflex these 25 years later, but Arsenal’s kit from the middle of the decade is nothing if not a gentleman’s jersey.

The U.S. national team’s kit from the 1934 World Cupmust be one of the more wonderfully retro jerseys available. From the long sleeves, solid blue design, V-neck and prominent emblem on the chest (a trademark of vintage kits), this jersey shouts “classic!” It’s even got the history to go with it.
Unfortunately, the group format of the first World Cup (where the The United States had an impressive showing) was dropped in favor of a single elimination tournament, and the United States was handed a cruel draw of host country Italy in the first round. Seven Italian goals later, the Yanks’ World Cup was over before it seemed to have started. However for United States fans, the 1934 World Cup is best known for the events leading up to the tournament.
The final spot in the tournament was to be decided just three days before the World Cup began with a play-in game between the United States and none other than Mexico. The Mexican side looked to be the favorite, but the States ran out 4-2 winners and stamped its ticket to Italy. In modern soccer these two teams make up one of the world’s biggest rivalries, but that 1934 play-in match was the first meeting between the two countries and clearly catalyzed a forever-heated competition between the two.
If you’re looking to expand your wardrobe in support of the Yanks, this jersey should be in your closet. It’s got the classic feel and represents their first win over Mexico. Imagine alternating between this and your Landon Donovan jersey to show maximum star-and-stripes fandom.

Photos courtesy of PhillySoccerPage.net.

Still, just over 40 years later, that 1960-61 season is one of the most prized campaigns in the hearts of long-time Tottenham Hotspur fans. That year Spurs achieved a milestone feat under the manager Bill Nicholson (that’s the handsome man below) and in a classically simple strip. The club secured the first Double of the twentieth century.

Having already secured the First Division title, Spurs chased the Double through the FA Cup Final on May 6 that year. Leicester City stood in the way of Spurs’ ambition, but Tottenham proved no club would stop them from the landmark accomplishment of winning the first Double of the century and ran out 2-0 victors.
Nicholson once against led Tottenham Hotspur to FA Cup triumph the following season, but the club was unable defend its First Division crown and do the unthinkable with back-to-back Doubles. Nevertheless, that first season of the 60s decade will not be soon forgotten and can always be celebrated in retro style!