Anthony Koutoufides is the Biggest Sneakerhead you Never Knew About

He retired in 2007, but AFL Hall of Famer Anthony Koutoufides is still racking up kicks in 2016.

Image: Tom Shepherd

I grew up in a staunchly Carlton-supporting family. My dad actually forced my mum to switch her allegiances before they got married. There was absolutely no chance I wasn’t going to grow up with in a navy blue jersey, with Anthony Koutoufides’ famous 43 ironed on the back.

Kouta’s storied AFL career began in 1992, where he spent most of his time vying for a spot in Carlton’s stacked backline. After spending years honing his craft as a reliable defender, Koutoufides made a move to the midfield and soon revolutionised the game. He was part of the Premiership-winning 1995 Blues, but he truly made the game his own in the 1999 preliminary final against Carlton's long-time nemesis, the Essendon Bombers. In the fourth quarter alone, Koutoufides amassed ten kicks, six marks, four clearances, three rebounds and two goals. It was a performance that would later be described by former teammate, club legend, and later, president, Stephen Kernahan as "the greatest quarter of football ever played.”

His AFL career came to a close in 2007, and Kouta was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in 2014. Though he managed to stay in the public eye via appearances on TV’s Gladiators and Dancing With The Stars, Kouta has also been spotted at Melbourne sneaker events over the past few years. 

Sneakerheads in the thriving Melbourne scene are often shocked to see a Hall of Famer haggling with sellers, making his way through the pack, and emerging with a box of Yeezys firmly gripped in one hand like he did on the field so many times during his AFL career.

After two decades of worshipping the Carlton great, I was fortunate enough to bump into him one day while selling kicks. We formed a friendship from there, and over the next few years I discovered the love Kouta had for sneakers. It was much more than just another athlete being fed pairs by a brand, this was a real love that many of us can relate to.

What got you into collecting sneakers?

I’ve always been a lover of sneakers, ever since the 1980s. I’ve always had a collection; throughout the 1990s I was sponsored by adidas, so I’ve always had a little bit of stash. My favourite ever pair of sneakers was in 1989, I think, and that was the adidas ZX 8000 in the blue colour. There were a few different colours, and I have maybe 2 or 3 pairs of them. Then a few years ago, I saw them and that sort of woke the passion up again, so I bought them and that was the thing that got me back into it.

You were at Carlton during their sponsorship days with Nike, yet remained with adidas, why was that?

When I first started at Carlton, adidas had already been sponsoring Carlton for a long time but then in, I think 1996, Carlton went on to be sponsored by Nike but I still continued to be sponsored by adidas. So, I fought the issue and luckily enough we won the case and I was allowed to stay with adidas. It was a big moment in football; from then on players could actually have a different sponsor to the club and wear whatever footwear they wanted to. It opened up a lot of doors for other players to get sponsorship, and get looked after by other brands that weren’t their club sponsor.



I fought the issue, we won the case and I was allowed to stay with adidas.


What was the reason you wanted to stay with adidas?

I’ve always been attracted to the three stripes, for whatever reason, there is something appealing about it to me. I’ve always loved their shoes and their clothes and while I was sponsored the people at adidas were always good to me. Nowadays, I’ve opened my eyes a bit more to other brands, but in the 1980s my two favourite brands were Nike and adidas. I also liked Asics a lot; I was doing athletics in the late 80s when their first Gel Lyte came out, it was such a comfortable shoe. Those three were always the favourites at the time, occasionally we had Lotto or Diadora, with Mum being Italian. My brother and I always had a love for sneakers, I remember the adidas web technology sneakers back in 1980 or 81 looking at it going “wow, look at the web!”

We had all the catalogs and my brother used to draw mock ups of sneakers. There was always something there, for a long time. My older brother Paul and my younger brother Kristian love sneakers as well, just a family of sneaker lovers, I don’t know what it is that attracts us to sneakers.

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Were there any other sneakerheads at Carlton?

Not really. Even at the time I wasn’t really a sneakerhead, I wore a lot of different sneakers because I was given them by adidas. Never really a collector, I didn’t even know there was a collector's market in all honesty. Then there was that trigger a few years ago that got me excited when the ZX 8000 came out, I didn’t even know they reissued it and that opened my eyes a bit, and got me excited for other styles of ZX adidas again, and that was it.

Now onto the collection, how big do you estimate it to be?

Too many. Way too many to count. I think my wife said it at one point, 'why don’t you start collecting some that are actually collectible?' Which I am sure she now regrets saying. I didn’t even know they were [collectable], that opened my eyes to Jordans and others. Michael Jordan in my opinion was the greatest athlete of all time, I watched all his videos and games, and tried to get in the mindset of what it is to be a champion when I was playing footy. When I started collecting Jordans, it opened up whole new world of sneakers to me, I then discovered more about the Lebrons and Kobes which are also magnificent athletes, so my goal is to have a well-rounded collection of their sneakers as well and maybe have it set up like a museum one day.

With that being said, what’s your favourite athlete’s shoe?

Jordan I think, just because of the sports person he is. The range of the sneakers will always be around, they’re all such iconic sneakers. Just not for comfort, that’s for sure, they’re certainly not comfortable. I find the Lebrons and Kobes very comfortable, but as are the trainers, they’ve always been more comfortable, so it really just depends on the day. I love the Jordan 1, 3, 4, 6 and 11. They would have to be the favourites, of those I’d say the personal favourite in my collection would be the Doernbecher 6. 

What’s the missing piece to the collection?

If I had to look back, I’d probably still say that original colour of ZX 8000. If I could find a pair of the originals, Adidas gave me three pairs of those back in the day and for whatever reason I just loved them. So if I could find an original pair of those, and the entire colourway range that release in 1989 that would be it, for the sentimental value. If anyone has the original ZX 8000’s in any size, but in particular 13 or 14 please reach out to me, I’d love to get my hands on those.



the personal favourite in my (jordan) collection would be the Doernbecher VI


What do you think is more exciting, the thrill of chasing the sneaker, or finally getting it?

You’ve got to get it, the feeling when you’ve got it, the relief. When you’re looking around the internet and you found something you like, and then when it pops up. It’s exciting to look for them but the thrill of actually getting the shoe is what gets me. Every day there is a chase, as soon as you think "I need to settle down," you find something else you like.

What do you think of the current sneaker climate?

I think there is too much. It’s too hard to keep track of it. I still love it, there are so many brands out there and they’re doing so many great sneakers. It does get competitive, but the things you love are important.

Anything you’re looking forward to coming out?

There is always something. Jordan 1 Banned again, they’d be great as I have the first version. I’d love to get more Yeezys, for the comfort and look.

What’s your daily wear?

Being a health coach working with Herbalife, I’m on my feet a lot of the day. I’ve been wearing the adidas boost technology since the very early days. The comfort is unrivaled, so lately it has been the Ultra Boosts. Perfect for long days on my feet, in the gym and meeting up with my clients.

Connect with Kouta on Instagram: @anthonykoutoufides or Snapchat @healthyactive