We still refer to the 1954 World Cup as the Miracle of Bern
for so many reasons: Germany, crushed after World War II,
had more pressing matters to deal with than a football
tournament in Switzerland. But in the end, it was exactly
what the country needed.
Facing the unbeatable Hungarians in the final, a victory
seemed out of reach for the underdog Germany. Enter Adi. A
close friend of team coach Sepp Herberger, he provided the
players with a whole new boot made out of thinner, lighter
leather and with screw-in studs. While the Hungarians
struggled during the rainy final wearing heavy rain-soaked
boots with studs too short to find a grip on the muddy field,
the German team went on to score the game-deciding goal
with more grip and a better feel for the ball.
For Germany, the victory brought new confidence, for adidas
and Adi Dassler the innovative football boots brought
international recognition and a market leadership in the
football business.