Raúl's Predator Boots: The Precision Years and Beyond

Raúl González was not a Predator man from the start. According to 90min’s history of the boot’s greatest wearers, he first laced up Predators at the beginning of the 2000/01 season, by which point he had already won two European Cups with Real Madrid. What followed was the most prolific season of his career: 32 goals in all competitions, scored in the Precision generation of boot.

That is the Predator connection. Raúl was never the face of the line in the way Beckham or Zidane were, but he was one of its most consistent users. He leads SoccerBible’s montage of Precision wearers, was pictured in Predator Manias in 2002, and kept wearing Predator and other adidas releases for the rest of his career.

This page tells that story, and is honest about the parts we can’t yet pin to an exact pair of boots.

Before the Predator

Raúl came through at Real Madrid in the 1990s and won the 1997/98 Champions League before the Predator was part of his story. On 24 May 2000, in Paris, he scored Madrid’s third goal in a 3-0 win over Valencia, giving the club its eighth European Cup.

Whether he wore a Predator that night is not something we claim. Sources date his Predator years from the start of 2000/01, although a SoccerBible report places Iker Casillas in a silver Precision in that same final, so the boot was clearly around Madrid’s dressing room earlier than its public launch. We say “from 2000/01” because that is what the evidence supports.

The Precision Season

The Predator Precision brought a Velcro-fastened fold-over tongue, thinner ribbed rubber in place of the old fins, and exchangeable Traxion studs. Raúl’s 2000/01 was his best return in front of goal: 32 goals in all competitions, in his first season in the boot.

It also placed him among the boot’s best-known wearers. When SoccerBible looked back at the Precision in 2017, its montage of players in the boot began with Raúl, followed by Rui Costa, Del Piero, Beckham, Gerrard, Kluivert, Barthez and Zidane. SoccerBible describes the Precision as dominating 2000/01, and Raúl was part of that picture.

Hampden, 2002

On 15 May 2002 Real Madrid met Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park in the Champions League final. Raúl opened the scoring after eight minutes, latching on to a throw-in from Roberto Carlos to beat Hans-Jörg Butt. Lúcio equalised within minutes, and Zidane’s volley just before half-time, struck in Predator Manias, made it 2-1. The goal is covered in full in our Zidane Moments piece.

Raúl’s opener made him the first player to score in two Champions League finals, after his goal in Paris two years earlier. This was the Mania era, and SoccerBible’s archive pictures Raúl playing in Predator Manias in 2002. We have not confirmed which exact pair he wore in Glasgow, so we refer to the Mania era rather than naming a model for that night.

A Career in Adidas

Raúl did not wear one Predator model throughout. An auction-house listing describes his 2003/04 match boots as the adidas TraXion, while another lists a signed pair of Predators from his 2006 matches for Spain.

Years later he was spotted in legends matches wearing Predator Manias and Predator Letal Zones, before switching to adidas ACE Primeknit.

He finished with 71 Champions League goals.

Why Raúl Belongs on a Predator Site

Predator history is usually told through the free-kick takers and the midfield generals. Raúl is the reminder that the boot was also trusted by one of the great finishers of its era. His most prolific season came in the Precision, his 2002 final goal in the Mania era, and he was still wearing Predators in legends matches years after retiring from the top level.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Predator boots did Raúl wear?

Raúl first wore Predators at the start of 2000/01 in the Precision generation and was pictured in Predator Manias in 2002. He continued with various Predator and adidas models for the remainder of his career.

When did Raúl start wearing adidas Predator?

Most sources date it to the start of the 2000/01 season. A SoccerBible report places Casillas in a silver Precision at the May 2000 Champions League final, so the Precision may have been in Madrid’s hands slightly earlier. We date Raúl’s Predator years from 2000/01.

Which boots did Raúl wear in the 2002 Champions League final?

It was the Predator Mania era, and Zidane wore Manias that night. We have not confirmed the exact pair Raúl wore at Hampden Park.

Did Raúl wear Predators for his whole career?

No. He wore adidas throughout this period, but not every pair was a Predator. An auction listing describes his 2003/04 match boots as adidas TraXion.

Read more: Predator Precision · Predator Mania · David Beckham