2012 Year In Review - PUMA
2012 really has been something else. Sport has never witnessed a more exciting and ground-breaking year for new products and technology. The world's leading sports companies have been locked in a fierce battle for supremacy on and off the field. Who's landed the biggest punches? That's for you to decide!
For PUMA, 2012 was the year their lead assets shone. Never before have PUMA had such an impressive line-up of endorsed athletes, and with stunning performances from the likes of Sergio Aguero and Radamel Falcao, PUMA have been keen to promote their players through various campaigns. We have also seen a number of new releases, including a new King and a new speed range, so things are certainly on the up for PUMA who go into 2013 full of optimism.
To celebrate the legend joining their ranks, PUMA dedicated a whole month to Thierry Henry. With exclusive content and video interviews, everyday in February a new video explored what really makes the global superstar tick on and off the field. 
Sergio Aguero was spotted testing possibly the most radical prototype boots football has ever seen. Decorated with a 'razzle dazzle' effect to conceal the identity, and development of what we would later find out was the evoSPEED, the pattern was inspired by First World War battleships!
PUMA offered a fresh assault on the speed market, by signalling the end of their v1 series and introducing the evoSPEED. Unified across all their sports categories, the idea is to take the speed of the world's fastest man and put it in one shoe, by incorporating technologies and performance innovations inspired by Usain Bolt. The evoSPEED has proved a success and is currently being worn by Sergio Aguero, Radamel Falcao and Mario Gomez.
PUMA wanted to show their love for the Caribbean island by dropping a fresh colourway, and giving one of their boots the Jamaica treatment. Recruiting Bob Marley's daughter, and fashion designer, Cedella Marley to inject her artistic vision to create the PUMA evoSPEED 1 Cedella Marley. Marley was also responsible for designing the Olympic uniforms for the Jamaica national team, produced by PUMA.
As part of quite an extraordinary campaign, PUMA offered prized possessions straight from the feet of their footballers, giving fans the chance to win real boots worn by star players in professional matches. The 'For Real' campaign included boots from Yaya Toure, Radamel Falcao, Olivier Giroud, Mikel Arteta, Ibrahim Afellay, Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Nemanja Vidic, Samuel Eto'o, Mario Gomez and Marco Reus in this unique competition set to continue into 2013. 
We know footballers are a competitive bunch, so PUMA set their athletes a challenge to perform in a different sport. PUMA players Sergio Aguero, Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Frimpong, Michael Carrick, Bacary Sagna, Phil Jones and Nigel de Jong all took up the 'Race Off' challenge to compete against Nico Rosberg in an F1 simulator. The fastest was Sergio Aguero, who joined Nico Rosberg at Donington Park race circuit for a real life driving experience. 
GaËl Clichy was officially announced as part of the PUMA family, joining an increasingly strong group of players. Put straight into the evoSPEED, Clichy joined Manchester City colleagues Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure by becoming an official PUMA athlete.
Speed got speedier, as PUMA teamed up the evoSPEED with racing manufacturer Ducati. We hadn't seen a partnership like this since PUMA paired the v1 with Ferrari, but the evoSPEED Ducati brought a new level of speed and aerodynamic silhouettes inspired by the Ducati motorbike.
PUMA unveiled the all new King and King SL, the latest and most revolutionary adaptations of the world renowned football boots. Launched in a striking yellow and black colourway, PUMA continue to reinvent one of football's longest serving boots, which for so long has been the benchmark for quality and craftsmanship. 
One year on from joining PUMA, midfield maestro Cesc Fabregas joined ranks with some of the world's best players to be given their own signature design. Given the role as headline player for the PowerCat range, Cesc's PowerCat boots are one of the most striking PUMA designs in recent years. Presented in a striking bright yellow, red blue colourway in reference to his Catalan roots. 
PUMA launched their 'Nature of Performance' campaign, to outline they don't just create boots to boost performance, but to also reflect your footballing nature and the way you play the game. Using lead athletes, the tribes are led by Sergio Aguero the Speed Junkie, Cesc Fabregas who's Power Hungry and Yaya Toure a Control Freak.
What have been some of your favourite moments from PUMA in 2012? Let us know. Join the conversation online, on Twitter and on Facebook.
