A Heartfelt Transition: SoccerCleats101 Moves into a New Phase

After more than 16 years of dedicated coverage, SoccerCleats101 is shifting into a more dormant stage. The website will remain online as a permanent resource for soccer cleat history, reviews, and stories, but future updates will be limited. This article explains the reasons behind the change and reflects on the journey that made this site a leading source in the soccer community.

Why the Transition?

Back in 2008, the founder of SoccerCleats101 had just retired from Major League Soccer and started working at an internet company called Shopzilla. The company encouraged employees to launch a website based on a personal passion to learn how to run a site. The choice was clear: soccer cleats.

Within six months, SoccerCleats101 became one of the top destinations for cleat information and updates. Over the following 16 years, the site brought immense joy, afforded the founder the freedom to be a stay-at-home parent to three children, built lasting friendships in the soccer industry, and opened doors to events around the world.

Now, the time has come to step back. Spending several hours each day creating content, shooting images, tracking market trends, and monitoring website traffic is no longer feasible. Rather than continue without full commitment, the decision has been made to transition into a more limited update schedule.

A Look Back at the Journey

Industry Events and Global Travel

The website led to extraordinary opportunities: trips to SOCCER.com and Nike headquarters in Portland, invitations to adidas events in Germany (including the announcement that all adidas silos were being replaced), Champions League finals, USMNT matches, and street soccer events in New York. Every trip offered the chance to meet and interact with incredible people throughout the industry.

The Gear Show and Collaborations

SoccerCleats101 gave birth to “The Gear Show” on KickTV, co-hosted with Ben Hooper of Bumpy Pitch. Filming episodes across Los Angeles was an absolute blast and remains among the best memories. The site also sparked an 11vEleven collaboration with Mat Davis, now the owner of Saturday’s Football. Brainstorming business ideas with Mat led to some of the most creative concepts.

World Cup 2010 at Nike Montalban

The website was part of all the 2010 World Cup events at the Nike Montalban theater in Hollywood, including rooftop soccer. After winning the tournament, the team was treated to a VIP cabana on the roof of the W hotel following the World Cup final—a weekend that remains unforgettable.

What’s Next for SoccerCleats101

The site will stay online with all existing reviews and stories available. However, regular updates will become infrequent. The founder will remain active by sharing opinions on Twitter and Instagram, and will continue writing longer-form articles for SOCCER.com on The Guide.

Thank You to the Community

Over 16 years, countless pairs of cleats have been worn and tested, far beyond what was ever imagined. The website has opened doors, taught the lessons of running a business, provided freedom to experience life with young children, and created friendships and journeys that will last a lifetime.

None of it would have been possible without the unwavering support of every visitor, every interaction, and every piece of feedback. The next phase of the journey continues, and the connection with the community remains strong.

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