Last Sept. 26, Raheem Sterling was part of the English side that turned a 2-0 deficit into an exciting 3-3 draw against Germany in a Nations League match. And if you haven’t noticed, the player matched the bright scarlet shade of his kit with an equally vivid pair of azure blue New Balance Furon boots. Not only are the boots the new-gen Furon 7s, they also happen to be the player’s first (and surely not the last) signature football footwear under the latest New Balance speed boots. Dubbed as the ‘Route to Success,’ it was an apt moment for the boots to come to light right before the start of their 2022 World Cup campaign.
Before the comeback got spoilt by Havertz in the last few minutes of the game, the mood was obviously celebratory and party-like, which could have been the perfect ending and atmosphere for the unannounced debut of the Sterling Furon 7 boots. The multicolour pops of the abstract shapes on the colourway do seem like calls for a party with a bit of a pop music at the background. Nonetheless, the funky yet bold design of the boots surely fit the Premier League star as his pace and movement keeps unsettling the German defence all night. The route to success, therefore, involves Sterling using the lightweight and performance benefits of his new-gen speed boots to complement the quickness of play he brings to the Three Lions.
On a personal note, the ’80s look is reminiscent of Sterling and his sister bus rides to QPR at the early part of his football career. Specifically, the colourway is similar to the blue wool seats of those red double deckers, and such aesthetics remind Sterling that part of his route to success is the commitment and sacrifice of his love ones.
