Why Harry Kane Is Always Putting His Best Boot Forward

Harry Kane was destined for a career in football. Having grown up a short distance from North London's biggest clubs, it wasn’t long before the famed athlete’s close proximity to the sport brought him to become captain of the England team, participating on the big stage in countless world competitions.

Transcending through the ranks, Kane’s football journey began at the age of six, joining local youth club Ridgeway Rovers before entering the Arsenal youth academy. After a series of loans to clubs across the country, he graduated to Tottenham Hotspur’s first team where he would stay for 13 years. Now competing in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, the striker has racked up several awards and set various new records, boasting a legacy that is often compared with some of the greatest players in the sport.

However, of all the football icons past and present, Kane is considered to be one of the more privately guarded figures. Take his discreet wedding six years ago, for example, a closed-door ceremony miles apart from the fairytale event of his predecessor David Beckham. Whether that’s his secret to success or not, it has helped the player maintain a stable state of mind – something he has come to learn is increasingly important.

"I’ve always been the type of person who is just trying to improve. I don’t chase records, but when they arrive you're proud of achieving them."

Dialing in from his home in Munich, Hypebeast connects with Kane after his long day of training and spending some quality time with his family. As expected, the footballer is conscious not to give too much away on his home life, simply adding that he is looking forward to a bit of quiet time ahead of his big game against Leverkusen which, for those who didn’t watch, turned out to be a Bayern Munich victory with Kane scoring two goals.

Nearly two years into his lifetime partnership, the footballer is about to launch his first signature boot and a new apparel collection with Skechers. Something of a childhood dream, he explains how he’s always wanted to have his own boot, sharing how he “began to get into all sorts of colors and styles” when he first started wearing them. Helping him achieve this dream, it was just after his Skechers deal was announced in 2023 that conversations on designing the shoe took place.

Now, he wants to relish every part of this special moment. Though questions have arisen on the next step in his career, one thing is certain, the footballer will be staying ready for his next challenge in his signature boots. Keep reading to find out more about the Harry Kane “Player Edition” boot, his tenure at Bayern Munich, and taking more time to prioritize mental health.

Hypebeast: We’re excited to chat about your first signature boot with Skechers. Talk us through the design process, how did you incorporate features from the SKX 1.5 model?

Harry Kane: The SKX 1.5 boot is really comfortable so there wasn't too much that I wanted to adapt or change. In terms of aesthetics, the colorway was the most important to me – we went for red and white because the England uniform is white and the Bayern one is red. I love bright colors so using those tones was a must.

There are also plus symbols on the boot that are there to reflect how I’m constantly trying to improve and work hard, always giving that extra percent. It might be something that most people don’t see but it’s quite personal to me. Across the boot, there are an additional 36 golden plus symbols too, bringing in that reference to the 36 goals I scored in the Bundesliga last season, in which I was awarded the Golden Shoe. I hope people will buy the boot and appreciate the story behind it, that’s what makes it pretty cool.

"I worked closely with Skechers on developing the boot right for me [...] I think other players in the boots are feeling the difference too."

You’ve tried and tested a number of boots throughout your career. How important is it for footballers to find the right boot for their style of play?

Footballers wear boots every day – either in training or at games – so they need to be comfortable. You need to feel like you can play for two hours or train for a few hours a day and not have any issues. As a striker, I want to have enough comfort at the top where it can take a bit of the pressure off without losing the ability to gain power through the boot.

I think the balance of not being too light or too heavy but having a happy medium is what we managed to achieve with the material. It gives me enough room to move a bit in the boot but not too much. I worked closely with Skechers on developing the boot right for me, one that has the right mix of comfort and innovation. I think other players in the boots are feeling the difference too.

I've always wondered if players get a fresh pair every time they play…

If I’m being honest, I re-wear them. I quite like the feeling of wearing a boot and breaking them in. But, I think Skechers boots generally don't take that long to do so. It also depends if I'm scoring goals and I'm feeling good about the footwear, I like to keep them on sort of like a lucky charm. If I’m not scoring goals, I'll swap them out for a fresh pair, but definitely not every game. I'd probably say every four weeks or so, I look to change them.

The announcement of your Skechers partnership coincided around the same time as your debut at Bayern Munich. How did it feel to start this new chapter in your life?

It came around a bit unexpectedly. I didn’t know what was about to happen at that stage of my career but it all fell into place quite nicely. We had been talking to Skechers for a few months, and in the background, we were also talking to Bayern Munich, which was going back and forth from late July to August 2023. I'd been with the same team and in the same boots for a long period, so it was time for a fresh challenge. Looking back, I’m happy I made that change and I’m excited about all the things we've been doing. It’s nice to be part of the family.

You recently got crowned the all-time top goal scorer from England. Is there a record you hope to set next?

Not specifically. I’ve always been the type of person who is just trying to improve. I don’t chase records, but when they arrive you're proud of achieving them. I got top goal scorer at Tottenham, England men’s all-time top goal scorer, winning the European Golden Shoe; all these things, as a striker, I’m extremely proud of because it means that I’m doing well at my job. Generally, we’re all just trying to win as many team trophies as we can. We have some tough games coming up, but with the final of the Champions League being in Munich, we have the opportunity to try and do something special.

As a role model to the next generation, tell us a bit about who your inspiration in the sport was, and what they taught you.

The main one for me is David Beckham. He was a big idol of mine growing up. The way he was on the pitch, and how he carried himself off the pitch, is something I looked up to. Other than that, you go through stages of your career and have different coaches – from under-15s days to youth teams – who are there for you. Alex Ingleford, Tim Sherwood, John McDermot and Chris Ramsey helped me to improve throughout my journey and were role models of mine. It all started by playing football in the park with my brother and my dad, so I probably would’ve never made it to where I am now without them either.

All footballers are human and all people have their ups and downs in life. The fact that we're in the public eye doesn't change that.

Why now is it important to surround yourself with people who understand this world of football and being in the public eye?

Nowadays with social media, there's so much news on your phone and on every app that you use, it's hard to sometimes get away from it all. We also regularly play in front of millions of people around the world, so those pressures can mount up. As much as you can try to take yourself out of that scenario, I think it’s about being home with my kids or golfing with my friends and just getting out and switching off mentally. All footballers are human and all people have their ups and downs in life. The fact that we're in the public eye doesn't change that.

You launched the Harry Kane Foundation in 2022. What did you set out to achieve through that?

We decided to focus on mental health because I had been through this particular path of facing rejection early on in my career. I had the lows, which were followed by loads of highs, and felt it could be good to share my experiences to help young boys and girls. I have a strong connection with that and people have been able to relate to it. Ultimately, it’s still a learning process. With each campaign, I gain greater insight into mental health and the different ways to help myself and others. The foundation is still really young but I hope it goes on for many more years. When I’m retired, I hope to focus on it and give it more time. Right now, we’re just doing what we can to help people.

Take a closer look at Harry Kane’s signature Skechers boot in the campaign above.

You can now shop the model via Skechers’ website and, be sure to stay tuned to the brand’s social channels to find out more about the upcoming Skechers x Harry Kane – Off Pitch Collection.

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