PUMA Heynckes Comet

• MODEL: PUMA HEYNCKES COMET
• TYPE: CASUAL / INDOOR
• MADE IN: WEST GERMANY
• ART.NO: 117

When someone hears the name Jupp Heynckes, the first thing which may come to mind might be a successful Germany Footballer during the 1960s and ’70s, winning several trophies at club and international levels, and still holds the third highest goal scoring record within the Bundesliga. He also went on to become a successful manager in leading Real Madrid to Champions League success and recently announced his retirement after completing a record triple trophy winning season with Bayern Munich. However, he was also one of a few selected stars to have his own signature PUMA shoe: the PUMA Heynckes-Comet.

While other companies were producing shoes for endorsed by athletes specifically for the sport they played (and thereby represented), PUMA were unique in choosing to give their models a casual basis which had a larger appeal to the masses. First made during the mid-late 1970s from their West German factory, the Heynckes-Comet had a mock-up similar to other articles of their time while implementing new production methods with hand-finished details.

Their green suede upper and navy form stripe is a colour combination which has gone on to be replicated across various PUMA models over the years. Their silhouette was complimented by navy leather lining, laces, and a gum sole which made them an instant classic. The front toe piece section detailing set them apart from other similar articles and on a closer look you may notice details such as their ‘Made in West Germany’ stitched tongue tag, the lack of a leaping PUMA cat on the heel window, and hand-stamped gold logo details.

During the 1980s they were reproduced, but this time they lost their Heynckes link and were officially released as PUMA Comets. It’s unknown why the tie was cut but the retros were made in a keen likeness to their originals all the same. Then again during the 1990s more were to follow, but this time in different eye-catching colourways and using a white rubber rather than the gum as on their predecessors.

At a time when PUMA are revisiting many of their back catalogue models, the timing couldn’t be better for a Heynckes-Comet retro with the great man having just retired from his footballing career on the highest level possible. If anyone’s out there listening, we would love to see these again, whether they’re labeled as a Heynckes-Comet or simply Comets.

written by Professor B

photography by errol