Roy Keane's hard-man image may have softened in recent years but modelling a new adidas collection was probably not something many football fans would probably come to expect from the former Manchester United captain.
The new addias Spezial Autumn and Winter collection for 2023 has been accompanied by a short film starring Keane and his beloved dog, Jet, of which adidas says is "a deeply personal portrait of one of football’s most recognisable figures" and that "the film goes beyond the pundit and the player and explores the man." The video paints Keane in a somewhat revealing and calm light as well as going someway further to showing us the real person behind one of the most aggressive silhouettes we've ever seen on a football field.
Adidas' new range features new trainers as well as coats, t-shirts and more worn by Keane and although it might be a shock to some footy fans to see the former midfield enforcer for United and the Republic of Ireland fronting a fashion campaign it's actually not entirely out of the blue. Back in August of this year Keane appeared in a video for his Manchester United to help launch their away kit in what was his first official appearance for the club in 18 years.
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adidas)In the new video Keane goes on to say how being with Jet lifts his 'spirits' and that in life 'sometimes you have to lose to win'. Cutting an isolated but tranquil figure as he sails across a lake he also reveals how he was impatient as a young player and would have 'gone easier on myself'. He also goes on to talk about quite candidly about missing the 'buzz' of lining up for United but relents that he feels 'content' as he's gotten older and learnt to accept he'll never recapture the highs of his wildly successful playing career.
On to the collection itself and it looks like a fresh take on some adidas classics. The footwear that will be available is made up of seven silhouettes from the adidas vault and are Inspired by a 1970s training shoe with decorative lines that bring to mind the classic Samba.
The Samba Deco SPZL will be in two colourways, a black and green makeup paying homage to a 1980s football boot and a brown and white style that references the colour palette of the original 1970s Trainer. Other apparel in the collection focuses on recycled fabrics and stealing the limelight in the range are two outerwear pieces: the Haslingden Jacket and the Moorfield Anorak.
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adidas)The pocket punctuated Haslingden comes in a dark brown colour update while the Moorfield Anorak features contrasting colour blocks in green orbit and a durable water resistant finish. There is also what's called the 'Topfield liner' which adidas say is a versatile jacket coming in gold embellished with "embroidered Mod Trefoil branding" on the back.
Roy Keane isn't the only United affiliated star to lend their hand to a major brand as current United player Marcus Rashford also launched his Nike range following in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé in getting is very own Nike collection which includes boots, tracksuits and trainers.
The the adidas Spezial Autumn/Winter 2023 collection arrives in limited quantities November 16 and is available through the adidas Confirmed app and select retailers.
