Aaron Lennon Interview

Aaron Lennon Interview

The campaign for the Nike Superfly III asks 'Who Is Superfly?', well this week SoccerBible caught up with one of the fastest players in the game, a man who's definitely Got Speed Game. Aaron Lennon has been a long term Nike Mercurial wearer, and in his career he's excited fans and players alike with his blistering pace and direct dribbling. SoccerBible grabbed an exclusive interview with the wide man at the recent Nike Town launch event for the Superfly III, and here's what the speedster had to say...

 

SB: What was your first reaction when you saw the Superfly III football boots? AL: My first thought was how much they stand out! But I thought they were a nice boot and I've always been a fan of the range. I also like that the designs are different on both sides of the boot. But yeah,the first thing I thought was how much they stand-out and how I couldn't wait to put them on.

SB: You mention you've always been a fan of the range, what are your first memories of the Nike Mercurial boots as they've been around since 1998?



AL: It was that Ronaldo wore the first ones, I was a big fan and he was one of my idols.I always wanted to wear the boots my idol wore, so now that I'm wearing the Nike Mercurial boots it's great.

 

SB: On the training ground, do the players notice each other boots, especially when you've got a new pair? AL: Yeah we like to have a laugh about them. Obviously people are sponsored by different makes, but we have banter between us. Because if you've got a bright pair of boots, you're gonna have to play quite well!   SB: Do you keep boots from memorable games?   AL: Yes sometimes I do, I've got a few pairs from debuts games and a few I wore at the World Cup. But I give a lot away or donate them to charities.

SB: To play with such blistering pace, it must be important to have confidence in your footwear?

AL: Yeah its massive. For me this is such a light boot that I feel even quicker, which is great. It's the same with a lot of players, they'll tell you that when you've got a heavy boot on you feel slower. Sometimes it is just in your head, but it's true, so it helps having a light boot and it's very important for me. SB: Talking of speed, we spoke to your team-mate and fellow winger Gareth Bale not so long ago, who had to confess you might just beat him for pace? AL: For speed yeah,I think I'd just beat him in a race, but it depends how long the race is!

SB: A great example of your speed was the assist against Milan in the Champions League, that must rate up there as your season highlight?

 

AL: Yes definitely,playing in the Champions League is a first for me and I'm enjoying it so much. I don't think a lot of people expected us to do as well as we have been, so to do that in Milan was very special.

SB: For the away legs, such as the upcoming trip to Madrid, how many pairs of boots will you take? AL: Normally I'll take two pairs of each so four, two with studs and two moulded. Most players will take four pairs, but it depends on how picky you are, some players will take more some will just take one or two pairs. But normally I take four, and they're all the same size and exactly the same boot.

 

SB: How long will you wear a boot for?

AL: For me it's normally a few weeks then I'll switch to a new pair. The old ones I'll give away to charities, or to some of the younger players at Tottenham and they love them.

 

SB: Who were your idols when you were growing up, who would you pretend to be in the playground?   AL: Like I said Ronaldo, he was one of my all time favourites, and I also I looked up to Ryan Giggs, there wasn't and still aren't many wingers like Giggs. As a young kid I enjoyed watching people who dribbled the ball, and for me the best were Ronaldo and Giggs.

SB: When you step onto the pitch to face the opposition, do you ever check out their footwear?

 

 

 

 

AL: Yeah sometimes you have a little look, because you might have different colours on. The lads notice what different players are wearing all the time.

SB: Against Madrid you'll be stepping onto the pitch wearing the same boots as Cristiano Ronaldo and Ozil. So like the Nike campaign asks - 'Who Is Superfly'?

AL: I think you have to give it to Ronaldo, right now he's the main man!  

As you might have seen, Lennon was kind enough to sign a pair of Nike Mercurial football boots for us, which we'll be giving away very soon in an exclusive competition, so stay tuned to the SoccerBible! And if you want to check out our full SoccerBible article on the Superfly III football boots, you can do so by clicking here!