KTTP PRESENTS: 2019 YEAR IN REVIEW

Jon Jenks
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As we at KTTP say farewell to 2019 and the twenty-tens we compiled a video of some of favorite moments from this past year. We spanned the globe this year talking to some of the most innovative and interesting names in and around the beautiful game. From online personalities Poet and Vuj to tastemakers Romance FC creator Aneesha Dewshi and Kish Kash to playmakers Mesut Özil and DeAndre Yedlin we would like to thank everyone that took the time to talk to us and contribute to Kicks to the Pitch. Here’s to a new year and decade as we proceed and continue to connect culture and the beautiful game.

KTTP’S BEST COLLABS OF 2019

Ben Hooper
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This past year has seen an increase in collaborations within the soccer world. Specifically when it comes to the merging of streetwear and soccer. And if we break this down even further, the second half of 2019 saw a big influx of soccer brands and streetwear brands coming together. This is without a doubt an indicator of what is to come and we expect 2020 and beyond to be full-on collab-mode between brands in the sport and those that want to tap into this market.

 
Here are our favorites from this year:
 
 
PSG x … You Name it!
 
PSG is a pioneer and an originator when it comes to collaborating with brands outside of soccer. Collaborations make sense for a reason—that is to extend your brand into new markets and to establish your presence with a new audience. Nobody in the soccer space does this better than PSG. There are countless examples of this from PSG in 2019—from sneakers (Jordan 1s and 6s), a coaches jacket, an electric bike, accessories with Herschel and so on. PSG continues to be an example of how to bridge soccer and culture and we should expect much more from them in 2020.
 

PSG Herchel

 
 
 
 
 
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PSG x Jordan Season 2

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Palace x Juventus
London based skate brand Palace clearly is influenced by soccer. This has been evident since the early days of the brand and we have seen some great soccer-inspired pieces from them over the years. But it was their official collab with Juventus in 2019 that took things to an entirely different level. Not only was their a full range available in the collection, but an actual on-field kit that Juventus wore. What made this even doper, was they kept this under wraps until the final moment, just before kickoff to unveil the kit. That knocks hard and Palace, Juventus, and adidas made real waves with this.
 
 
 
 
 
Arsenal x 424
This one is special for a couple of reasons. First, this was a dope project in general. Second, Guillermo and the 424 crew are family for us. And lastly, an American-based streetwear brand making custom suits and formal wear for one of the world’s biggest clubs—that’s just a damn good look. We’re all in on this and stoked for the homies over at 424.
 
 
 
 
Patrick x Le Ballon
If you go back far enough in soccer, you will remember Patrick. It wasn’t the biggest brand here in the US back in the day but, it had a presence and always seemed to be a little bit more European than many of the boots we all would wear. And then Patrick took a break. I don’t really know why. But I know that they went away for a while. A brand that had a deep history with the sport simply ghosted.
 
But this year they came back and made a splash with Parisien outfit Le Ballon. Dubbed “The Reborn Project” was Patrick’s way of getting back in the game – albeit from a heritage standpoint. They celebrated their roots in the game by connecting with fellow French outfit Le Ballon and made a splash with their retro-cool designs.
 
As a fan of Patrick as a kid, I’m excited to see what they have in store next.
 
 
 
 
 FCRB x BAPE
BAPE getting in the soccer world was a big deal. The legendary Japanese brand partnered with Sophnet’s fictional soccer club to create a capsule collection that included tees, jerseys, bottoms, and accessories. Not sure how big this was here in the States, but it had to have made a big splash, especially in Asia.
 
 
 
 
 
Lyle & Scott x Diadora
As a long-time admirer of Diadora, I’m always excited when they drop something new. Especially when it is with a brand like Lyle & Scott. According to the official release on this, this is a collaboration of two legendary terrace powerhouses and features “an 8 piece collection, exploring the walk home from the game, and the walk home from school.”
 
I remember those times in my life and can definitely get behind what is taking place between these two brands.
 
 
 
 
Lyon Feminin x La Redoute
This one was a smash hit as far as I’m concerned. It perfectly represented a brand, an attitude and a sense of fashion.
 
Olympique Lyonnais and French brand La Redoute combined for a very chic and exclusive collaboration that combined the best of French fashion, French football, and French culture. I’m not sure how big this was globally, but as a fan, this was executed flawlessly. This feels exactly how a collab should be. It should contain the essence of both parties involved, it should push the boundaries a bit, and it should excite fans of both brands. This collab checks all those boxes.
 
 
 
 
 
Kinfolk x Umbro
Combine a creative collective that resides in Brooklyn (Kinfolk) and one of the most storied brands in soccer (Umbro) and let them go to work on an athleisure collection inspired by the youth of Rio and you have a pretty special offering. Iconic Rio club Flamengo definitely played a role in this collab in terms of inspiration and color choices. Regardless of the global imprint, this was one to remember from 2019.
 
 
 
 
Awake NY x Kappa
This might have been the culmination of the 2010s but the 90s fashion aesthetic reigned supreme. Awake and Kappa leaned into this and created a capsule collection that featured a variety of tees and jackets that would have looked at home in the 1990s as well as 2019. Awake was founded by a former Supreme brand director, so authenticity is at the core of what they do and the product they release.
 
And Kappa might not be the biggest brand in global football, but they may just be the coolest.
 
 

BEST OF 2019: NIKE “FUTURA LOGO” 3RD KITS

Denis Boateng
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As we wrap up 2019, we take a look at one of our favorite drops this year… the Nike 3rd Kits that pay homage to kits worn in the early 90s. Nike brought back the iconic “Futura” logo as well as other elements that take you back to the 90s. @denis_boateng takes us through the designs of our favorite kits from the drop as well as some facts you may not have known. As always the fam @wrldsoccershop came through with the 3rd kit collection.


Let us know your thoughts about the collection and which kit is your favorite

THE DECADE WRAP UP

Ben Hooper
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The end of 2019 not only signifies the end of a year but the closeout of a decade. This past decade with soccer in America seems like more than just ten years. We are light-years from where we were when 2010 rolled around. Some of that is for the better, and in some ways, maybe not so much. Thinking back to where things were ten years ago, where things are at now and where we are headed seems far too much to include in one recap. But before we launch into 2020 and all that the decade ahead holds for us, we thought it important to take a look back at where we have been, what has transpired and how the sport has evolved over the last ten years.

The first thing that jumps front and center is the continued rise of digital platforms in how we consume the sport. The early years of this decade gave rise to blogs and allowed individuals to create their own digital platforms to share their own ideas. Blogging was a powerful tool and we saw countless people create their own blogs. Be that blogs that focused on tactics, jerseys, clubs, whatever. Blogging gave fans an opportunity to share their own views with the world at large. It was a new platform that allowed fans to connect to other fans in new ways that had not existed before. Soccer fans and blogging seemed to go hand in hand and really ushered in a new realm in how we all consumed content and connected with the larger soccer audience. 
 
The rise of blogging gave way to the rise of social media. And that may be the biggest story in soccer over this past decade. The way in which social media completely took over the digital side of the sport. Social media crushed blogs, it made old media change and adapt and it put more power in the hands of athletes than ever before. Players go to Instagram and Twitter to speak and engage directly with their fans. Clubs, national teams, brands, etc. also had the same opportunity to engage directly with their fans and consumers. Social media took hold in the 2010s and it has completely changed how we consume and interact with the sport.
 
The early years of this decade were very much for the core fan. The person that grew up kicking a ball or had some strange affinity for the sport on some odd level but, it ended with countless brands co-opting the sport. If the early years of the 2010s were about sharing ideas and interacting through blogs and words, the end of the decade was about new brands popping up in the space, social media dominating the conversation, and a new wave of soccer fans imparting their own viewpoints on this sport and this culture.
 
In the past few years we have seen Brand Jordan and PSG team up for on and off-field product collaboration, Kim Jones design a Nike boot, and Virgil too. A Virgil Abloh soccer boot is selling for $550 on StockX. Let that sink in for a minute. Palace Skateboards releases countless soccer inspired products and even got on the pitch with the Juventus third kit. One of the most hyped releases I can think of in the last couple of years was the Nike x Nigeria World Cup product. Y-3 and adidas elevated soccer through the influx of premium products. PUMA and Kehinde Wiley bridged a global artist on top of his game with soccer-inspired product. And these are all examples of early adopters in the space. 
 
 
 
 
In addition to the releases from the big brands, we see small brands from across the globe that are forming their own visions of how soccer collides with streetwear and culture. 
 
Soccer in America is looking very different at the end of 2019 than it was at the end of 2009. And that’s the way it should be. The sport and the culture are advancing even as new platforms, distribution and engagement with the younger generation are all in flux. 
 
We saw the USWNT win back to back World Cups and saw the players on those teams establish themselves as global superstars. We saw politics and sport collide when Megan Rapinoe took a stance against the President. Combine that with her electrifying World Cup, and a true superstar was born. One that transcends the sport. Megan Rapinoe is destined for greatness outside of soccer. 
 
The success of the USWNT reminds us of the struggles of the USMNT. Missing out on the 2018 World Cup was a massive blow. Missing out on the Olympics that this past decade offered only amplifies that. As the sport grows on and off the field domestically, the men’s national team is a reminder that not everything is on an upward trajectory. Hopefully, the 2020s offers a more positive decade with the men’s team than the 2010s did. 
 
 
 
In 2010, there were 16 teams in MLS. As of the end of 2019, the 30th (and potentially last) MLS franchise was just announced. Charlotte, the last potential MLS franchised, paid $325 million for the rights to an MLS team. The sheer growth of the league presents its own troubles but it’s hard to argue with the growth that MLS and soccer, in general, are experiencing. 2020 also sees the kickoff of David Beckham’s Inter Miami. Beckham signed with the Galaxy in 2007, towards the end of that decade. And now, here he is launching his own team in 2020. If that doesn’t point to the growth of soccer here in the US, I don’t know what does.
 
 
 
The next decade looks bright for soccer in America. We will be hosting the 2026 men’s World Cup. There is a very good chance we host the 2027 women’s World Cup. Los Angeles will host the 2028 Olympics. Soccer in America will very much be front and center of global soccer in the 2020s.
 
Now for some fun stuff. Here are a few of our predictions for soccer here in the next decade:
 
  • David Beckham will become the first person to win an MLS Cup as a player and an owner
  • Cristiano Ronaldo will find his way to MLS (but not Messi)
  • Megan Rapinoe will run and win her first political seat in Congress
  • The USMNT will lose a heartbreaker in the semifinals in the 2026 World Cup
  • We will see our first jersey sponsorship from a luxury fashion brand (Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, etc)
  • The USWNT will win the 2020 Olympics
  • The next Premier League TV rights deal in the US will absolutely smash previous EPL deals
  • By 2029, soccer will be bigger in the US than American football
  • FootyCon will be the marquee consumer event within the sport
  • European leagues will begin playing league matches here in the US
 
Thanks for riding with us over these past few years. We have some incredible things lined up for next year and beyond. Have a great holiday and we will see you all in 2020!

KTTP’S TOP 11 KITS OF 2019

Denis Boateng
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As the year of 2019 is coming to an end, there was no way that we could let it go by without highlighting 11 of our favorite kits from this year. 2019 featured many eye-catching pieces full of beautiful designs, clever collaborations, and historic statements. Our compiled list (in no particular order) consists of kits from some of our favorite clubs, but no worries if you missed out on these unveilings we are here to walk you through them. I am also sure some of these kits made fans out of people just because of how good they were, and yes we do have picks of some clean ones that pair perfectly with our and your favorite sneakers. 

Without any further ado here it is:

1. Liverpool Away Kit

Liverpool’s Away kit from New Balance is one that stood out. It is clean and minimalistic. The pairing of the navy blue logos and hints of red on the sleeves captured the details on the white jersey that celebrate Liverpool’s first European Cup victory in 1977 against Borussia. This jersey may not be the loudest, but as in most cases you don’t have to be loud to be considered classic.  

 

2. Arsenal Away Kit “Bruised Banana 2019”

The nostalgic Bruised Banana design made its return this season for Arsenal. The away kit was influenced heavily by 90s vibes courtesy of adidas. The brand three stripes and the historic club reunited and resurrected one of the most revered and beloved kits from the Gunners’ archives.

 

3. Chelsea Third

Truth be told, putting just one Chelsea jersey in the mix didn’t feel like it was enough, so yes Chelsea’s third kit had to get some love. This kit was another 90s piece brought back by Nike that once was Chelsea’s away kit during their 94-96 seasons. The black tonal jersey is covered with “CFC” graphics in an all-over print with the unique orange trimmed collar and white Nike Futura logo on the right chest. 

4. PSG Away

This one right here was for the culture, bridging the global game with streetwear. PSG and Jordan Brand has continued to bring forth great products. The kit itself is a statement, done in Infrared, the color made famous by the Air Max 90 and Air Jordan 6. The Parisians remain the only club in football proudly rocking the Jumpman logo. 

 

5. Roma Third

This kit here is one of the coldest, in my opinion. I mean just the pairing of the colors along with the old school 90’s collar is insane. Nike took this retro kit and brought back so many feelings. AS Roma wasn’t the only club with the revived retros, but they got the special treatment. The dark blue jersey with “ASR” and wolf head all-over pattern was spectacular, along with the red collar and yellow and red-trimmed sleeve cuffs.

 

6. Watford home

I am sure no one actually guessed this kit would be on the list but guess what?! It made it because it is unique. Watford definitely took a huge creative step since their 2018-19 kit. The kit, beautifully executed by adidas, is primarily two-toned. One half of the jersey’s front is black while the other half remains yellow. It is complemented by red trim and red stripes on the shoulder. It is two thumbs up for me.

Photo Cred: Radio Times/ adidas

 

7. Tottenham third 

The 90s influence was heavy in the third jerseys designed by Nike this season as they paid homage to influential players. What made Tottenham’s Futura kit so beautiful was the pairing of blues. The light blue base color of the jersey complemented the darker-toned blue that featured on the collar and sleeve cuffs.

 

8. Juventus Home

I know many feelings were mixed about this one, as the design veered away from the traditional look of black and white stripes and sometimes change is not embraced right away. This Juventus jersey was a step into a new era, in my opinion, it still consisted of the colors that make the Bianconeri great, but instead, the shirt is blocked in a white half and black half split in the middle by the highlighter pink stripe. The sleeve is black on the right side and white on the left. The team is still proudly sponsored by Jeep. A bold move but one that paid off.

Photo Cred: Hypebest and adidas

9. PSG Third Kit

Nike and PSG brought inspiration from their 1989 kit into their new one to honor their long relationship. As most may know PSG isn’t new to dropping fire kits and this makes the list because of how timeless it is. The red and blue stripes that run down the left side and then the touch of the red Nike Futura insignia on the right, were enough to put this in a category of its own. You can also see more dope details on the full stitched PSG crest and the detail that pay homage to the partnership with Nike on the buttons which read “Paris Saint-Germain 1989-2019”

10. Club America

Nike and Club America stay making standout shirts, year after year. The 2019-20 kit is full of color with dope triangular graphic work on the chest. Nike helped bring this design to life to celebrate the“Eterna Grandeza” of the club as they defend their title. 

Photo Cred: Nike

11. Manchester City Third Kit

Manchester City’s third kit is one that has a story. They hope to inspire people through their way of playing, and that is a message you cannot be mad at. PUMA did a great job with a vibrant color gradient that is eye-catching and hard to ignore, if they like it, we love it. 

That is a wrap for our 11 favorite kits of the year. If you feel like we missed out on your favorites you should let us know, even if you disagree, but with a new decade ahead of us and more football, we hope to see brands and clubs outdo the past as the game gets more exciting and continues to expand.

 

FEMALE IS FOOTBALL: CHELCEE GRIMES

Rich Gordon
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The phrase “Going Pro” is a phrase that drives aspirations for young athletes around the world no matter the sport. It is also a phrase that could to be used to describe one’s aspirations for whatever field they are in and their goals to master it. But that being said, while many have the aspirations, few reach that actualization of those dreams. Our latest Female is Football feature has done just that in not one, but two separate worlds. Chelcee Grimes is blazing a path less traveled and has reached the pro level in both the beautiful game and with the music she creates. From signing professional women’s soccer contracts in the UK to writing music for global pop stars, Chelcee is definitely setting an example for young women all over. Check out our conversation with Chelcee below, as she takes us from where it began on the pitch in Liverpool to being in the studio with the likes of Dua Lipa and many more. 

Make sure to follow Chelcee @ChelceeGrimes

Tell us a little about yourself and how you got introduced to football.

I’m Chelsea Grimes. I’m a singer, songwriter, and footballer from Liverpool, the best city in the world. 

That’s quite a list Singer, Songwriter, and Footballer. Let’s take them one at a time. Tell us how you got into football.

Yeah, it’s honestly, I think it was one of those things that I fell into. I grew up with no brothers and sisters until I was 16. So when I was a kid if I wanted to play outside, play in the street, there was only boys who lived in my street, so they only wanted to play football. So it was kind of just one of those things. Unless I wanted to stay inside, I’d have to go and play football with the boys. I got good quite quickly and I just fell in love with it. And then the first club I played for was Liverpool. My granddad saw  article in the newspaper for an Ian Rush soccer school. To be honest, I think the only reason he wanted me to go is so that he could meet Ian Rush, the legend. So I went down and I was the only girl and it just so happened that way. Where we played for the soccer camp was the same place that Liverpool ladies trained on. Someone just scouted me there and asked me down for trials and I went the next week and then I signed for Liverpool and I was there ’til I was 17. So it was crazy and very fast. I think I didn’t even own a pair of football boots when I went for the trial, I was in a pair of trainers but it all worked out.

What was the women’s game like then when you were playing for Liverpool?

You know, I spent the whole summer for the World Cup living in France and that was super emotional for me because there were 45,000, 30,000 people per game in a stadium. And I what I was used to was like, you know, parents on the sideline and the coaching staff, but I think they were quite voluntary when I grew up and it was completely different to now obviously, but you know, it still gave me a place to go. It was still there. It was still available. But yeah, it was, it was definitely 150,000 miles away from what the game is now.

So that’s pretty incredible you were in France for the entire Women’s World Cup. How did that happen?

I was doing BBC Television. I think it was about two months before the World Cup. I had a three episode show commissioned from the BBC, which was online much of the day. And it was a small segment, where they basically said, “Hey, you like football and you like music, why don’t you come and make a show about it?” So I was taking my music friends to football games and just trying to get them more into the game. And then the heads of the BBC said, “Listen, we want to take you out to France. You get to live in France for a month for free and travel the whole country. Watch the women’s tournament on basically just shoot what you want and we’ll put it on at half time.”

Which was obviously amazing because back home it broke records. I think it was the most watched sporting event in England ever. So even though for the women, you know, I was speaking to a lot of the England team and they couldn’t believe it, because their support back home was just incredible. I didn’t know really what to expect going out there to France, you know, having so few women’s games I thought maybe, you know, 50% maybe 25%, hopefully like 75% of the stadiums there would be sold. But it was a sellout each game. And it was honestly a super emotional experience for me because I didn’t think that as I’ve got to experience that, you know? And it was, yeah, it was just such a proud moment for me to know that I was there and it’s a story that I’ll be able to tell my grandkids one day, hopefully.

So you have already told us the other thing you do is music, When did you get involved in making music?

People often ask me what came first. It’s kind of like chicken or the egg, was it football or was it music. And it was 150% football first. Now it’s mostly music because that’s what pays the bills for me. And I make a lot more money and music rather than female football right now. I always wanted to be a footballer. And I played, like I said, from the age of 10 to 17 for Liverpool and I went on to play for Tottenham as well as Tranmere center of excellence with the most capped English female footballer ever, actually men or women. Fara Williams. She was a Tranmere with me and Izzy Christianson who went on to Manchester city. Now she’s at Lyon. And that’s all I wanted to do.

But then very quickly, at the age of 17 you know, people are starting to think about longterm careers and there was just no money in the game. You know, we were at the age of 15/16 and the male team, the boys, they would get a salary then and we would get nothing. We were lucky if we even got a team bus to a game and away game. So I had to very quickly think of something else and I just loved music. It was kind of like, whenever I wrote a song it kind of gave me the same feeling of scoring a goal, when I knew it was really good. It was the only other thing that fulfilled me. So you know, I’d done it for a minute and within a year I got a record deal and a publishing deal and I made a lot of money and I went from having no money with another passion of mine, which had done for seven years, eight years. Then this other thing which gives me the same fulfillment and I was getting paid. So, you know, I had to leave football behind unfortunately for many years, for like four or five years and I focused solely on music and songwriting and creating a name for myself in the industry until I literally could not not think about football. I just had to play again.

So are you self-taught or a classically trained musician?  

Yeah it was self-taught. I just did it in school for GCSE(General Certificate of Secondary Education). So you pick three options and I picked PE for football. I picked science in case I had an injury. A lot of girls would go into physiotherapy and stuff like that around the game. And then there was one more option and it was between like history, geography, or music and I was rubbish at the other two. So I was like, “Okay, I’ll give music a go.” Within like the first few music lessons in school I picked up the piano really quickly and my music teacher, Mr. Quinn, shouts out to him, he just really liked he championed me a lot and told me, “You’ve got a gift, you’re talented, you should stick on it.” And so it did. And I play every single open mic night that was available every weekend. I’d play in bars and just doing small gigs until more and more people started coming down and then the record labels came and yet it just grew and it was super organic. Yeah. I never really thought that I’d end up doing it. It was just another thing that I really loved.

That amazing you got signed pretty young then and essentially made it to the pros in music. Tell us about your first record deal.

I think it is every kid’s dream when you pick up an instrument or you make a demo or when you go into a studio for the first time; the one thing that you want is a record deal. It’s like signing for a club in the Premier League. It’s big news, but then as people say, hard work happens and you know you kind of need every star to align at the right time. And I use football analogies constantly throughout my music career and people can’t shut me up about them, My first record deal, I always say it was kind of like Paul Pogba signing with Manchester United and then he got let go and then he becomes something, then they resign him back.

‘Cause the first record deal I was signed to was Sony and I was only signed there for about a year maybe. But I didn’t really know what kind of album I wanted to make. They were trying to make me like an Alicia Keys, because I was young and I was playing a piano and I was British and they were like, “okay, we don’t have anyone like that.” It was  quite contrived and I just hated the record I was making. I absolutely hated it. 

So I didn’t release any music, but I got paid, you know, a nice advance and it kept me living for a good two years. And then I traveled and I got to just really find the person and I wanted to be. Because at that time I was 18, 19, and you know, I don’t even think I had fallen in love before properly or anything. It was a massive learning curve for me. And we parted ways and then I was like, “I’m just gonna write songs for a bit.” So it’s kind of like I went out on loan for a while. A year later I made a name for myself with songwriting. Right. I wrote for Kylie Minogue and Dua Lipa. Then they resigned me back for even more money. So it was kind of a weird place. And then I released the first single with them, which did really well. And then I just, yeah. And then I got back into football obviously at that point. The past two years have honestly just been crazy. It’s just been nonstop about prioritizing football and TV and songwriting and then for my own album. So it’s just, yeah, it’s nonstop.

So tell us how and why you got back into football after starting a successful music career.

So it was not this World Cup, but the World Cup before that, I think, Fara Williams was the captain and I was sitting home, I remember it clearly. I was watching pretty much half of the team on the England squad and I played with them on some level and I was just sitting  on the sofa eating Doritos and getting chunky. And I was just like, “What am I doing?” I picked up my laptop then and there and at halftime I looked at teams that were close by.I contacted clubs and and told them, “I played for this club and this club, and you know, I’m not really that fit, but technically I think I’m still good.” And I got to trial at a few Sunday League teams who wanted me, and then I got a trial for West Ham, Tottenham, and Wimbledon but then I didn’t travel for Wimbledon, but I did travel West Ham and Tottenham and they both offered me contracts, which was crazy because I didn’t expect to be at that level. That was just one league below Super League, which I felt was quite high considering I hadn’t played for the past five years. And I signed for Tottenham and played two seasons there, which was amazing. And then they went up to super league and got promoted. And at that point it was too much. It went full time then. And I also had this other career. I was gigging most nights and I was in the studio. This is the difference with all the people that maybe have a nine to five job they can leave and make training. But if I’m in the studio with Dua Lipa the Grammy winning best new artist in the world, I can’t just pick a bag up and go, “Sorry, Dua, I’ve got training.”

Because you know, that one song could make me $1 million, it could make me 300,000 pounds. And you know the women’s game still isn’t at that level; one season you’re not going to retire off that money. It’s such a difficult decision always will be. It’s about priorities and you know, I’m at Fullham now, which is two leagues below the super league, but it gives me time to balance a little bit better. You know, if I miss training a few times, then I’m definitely not in the squad, and the manager makes a point that no one’s better than anyone and  you’ve just got to keep training and get yourself back in the side. So yeah, it’s a lot, but I love both.

 

At KTTP we talk a lot about the intersection of football, fashion, and culture. What are your thoughts about how the game has grown off the pitch?

One of the leading guys right now in English football, I think for fashion, is obviously Hector Bellerin from Arsenal. That guy is in Vogue now. And you see Mbappe and all these guys in front, when I was in Paris. He was everywhere. Not only in sports sections, but also in like high end fashion places. And I think the of the fashion world maybe being a little bit snobby over the years and also British football was saying, “it’s too flamboyant for our sport.” But I also think the fashion world has awoke and they’ve thought, “You know, actually those guys, they’ve got fashion and they can offer us something that we don’t have.”

And I think there’s new crowds being built through music, fashion, and football all coming together. It’s opened this whole new level of what even fashion is, I think. So it’s super inspiring when you see all the football shirts now. that The way PSG have done theirs, with BAPE and stuff like that. It’s super exciting for everyone whether you’re in sport or you’re in fashion to be able to go out now on a night out and you can actually rock a football Jersey being designed with adidas or someone else it’s just sick. 

 

What do you think about Nike partnering with you hometown club, Liverpool?

I’m ready to go obviously because I’m a fan and Nike anyway, but I just think in our squad now we do have some flare players, you know, Virgil van Dyke in anything looks like a supermodel so imagine him when Nike and Liverpool come with some fire new releases. He should just do his own runway show for the whole thing.

What are your thoughts on the future of the women’s game in England and abroad?

On a personal note, I’m just super excited to see what happens. Obviously hopefully the growth keeps going. I’m now a Barclays ambassador with Kelly Smith, who is an Arsenal legend, and Ian Rice. They’ve put, I think, seven years of money now into the women’s game, into the WSL. So that’s amazing because they’ve never had someone jump on with that funding before, and it’s the same as the men’s. So Barclays run across the premier league and now the WSL. So that’s super exciting to see where they can take the game.

 

Thanks so much for your time. Maybe you can leave our readers with what you got going and what you are looking forward to in 2020.

Liverpool, my club, we’re world champions now, after that win, and we are looking very good for the Premier League. So hopefully that will be the first time I’ve ever seen my team win the Premier League, which will be unreal. For me on a personal note, career wise, I’m super excited. Match of the Day is back on the BBC in March. And so that starts again every Thursday night in England, which is just a dream come true for me to even be partnered with the BBC and have an anchor role is just crazy. I actually can’t  keep a straight face when I talk about it. Songwriting-wise, I’ve got a new song on the new Dua Lipa album coming in the summer and two on the new Kesha album, which lands in January, I believe. A lot more music for myself coming. I’m just back in the studio after Christmas. I’m at Fullham and we’re on a Christmas break right now, but I’ll be back playing for them. So there’s a lot going on, but just hopefully 2020 brings more good stuff.