The future of football is here and to Han-Noah Massengo, it’s a world where players can freely express themselves on and off the pitch.

Massengo joins the Zoom call having finished a shoot with PUMA, where he’s just fronted the brand’s Super Team Velvet sneaker. When I ask how it went, there’s a real sense of excitement in his voice. It comes as no surprise, though. He’s grown up and entered the game at a time when football and fashion are more linked than ever before. In fact, Massengo lives and breathes it — something that becomes abundantly clear as we start to chat.

From ballers bringing out their best fits at fashion week to kit collaborations in the form of AC Milan x PLEASURES. The convergence of football x fashion has made the game more culturally relevant and appealing to a mass audience than ever before. And it’s thanks to players like Massengo — continuing to push football into new and exciting spaces — who have a huge role to play. 

VERSUS spoke to Massengo about his involvement in PUMA’s Super Team Velvet campaign, what inspires his sense of style, and what direction he thinks the future of football is heading.

The PUMA Super Team Velvet is available now via PUMA.

Have you ever had any fashion faux pas; something you’ve worn or a trend you’ve followed that you look at now and say: “what was I thinking?”

Ahahah, yeah. When I look at my pictures from when I was younger, I really thought I was American. My hair hasn’t always been like this, and back then I had cornrows, matched with a snapback and a durag at times. Skinny jeans, too. A lot of things I’m really not proud of. 

That's the thing in it, you know, fashion is always evolving and the same goes for football. A lot of players are starting to push the boat out more and get involved with fashion, which is really cool to see. What are your ambitions for this?

I just want to be myself, and do stuff that makes me happy. Like we were saying before about skinny jeans, for example. I don’t even know if I liked it, I just did it because people were doing the same. It’s different now. I'm more in the mindset of, if I like it, then I'll just do it. I don’t know what’s next, or where it’ll take me, but I know that I just want to be myself and hopefully that’ll lead me to a good place.

Do you think a lot of players share the same view?

I think it depends. We’re individuals, after all, and some want to just focus on their football and don’t take much interest in what’s beyond it, which is completely okay. That’s a really important thing, for all of us, being ourselves and having the chance to put the energy into it. More players are expressing themselves in their own ways, and fashion can be a great way of doing so.

You talked about taking influence from a lot of American culture. In many ways, culturally, football can learn a lot from sports like basketball when we think about intersections with fashion and the ways players express themselves. Tunnel fits are one thing football is beginning to tap into. What are your thoughts on it?

Yeah, I’d love to see it. I think it’ll take time, as it’s never really been a part of the culture here, whereas in America it’s been a more long-term thing. It’d be so good, though. Like, it’s just a way for people to express themselves and show a bit more personality beyond wearing the same shirt, the same shorts, the same socks.

What else would you like to see more of?

There are so many different personalities in football, but sometimes we don’t see that. We’ve been trained to speak the same, dress the same, drive the same car, carry the same washbag, the same everything. So, traditionally we’ve all fit in the same box. I think it’d be good to see people think outside of it and have the confidence to do what they like. It’d add so much texture to how people see us, the game, and where it's headed. 

You were talking earlier about photography, and you’re a player whose creativity really stands out. Are these the kinds of things that you enjoy away from football?

Yeah, definitely. Sometimes it’s hard to explain. Photography is a big part of me and my life away from the pitch, it’s how I spend a lot of my free time. After this, for example, I’ll probably go out and take some pictures because it’s sunny outside. My job is football, and I always have to remember that, but it’s important to have something to enjoy outside of it.

You show the ways footballers can express themselves creatively. What are you noticing around you in terms of how others are doing the same?

Loads of ways, to be honest. When I first started to bring my camera in, everyone was like “what are you doing?”. But, after like one or two weeks they all tried to take pictures with it, asking where they could get one like it, so I can see that. Some people are interested in it, and while not everyone may be interested in creative stuff, we can all find something we like and try to bring it into the dressing room. I think, equally, we need to understand that some people just want to play their football and they’re happy with that. I think people are becoming more creative, especially with social media, and it’ll be really interesting to see where that leads us.

It’s a really nice way to document your journey, and that ties in quite well to the way you embrace the community around you. Be it at Bristol or Burnley, that’s always something that’s stood out. What does this mean to you?

I think it's so important — especially for us players — to understand why we play for this club. Like, who are the people supporting us? That can give us the extra edge, when we’re on the pitch, knowing the people you’re playing for, it gives you that bit more energy when making a tackle or scoring a goal. It’s crucial, and brings us closer to the community which benefits everyone. It’s a win-win situation.

VERSUS: We're here for the PUMA Super Team Velvet. An iconic silhouette, an iconic brand, long associated with football on and off the pitch. How does it feel to front the campaign?

Han-Noah: It feels really good. It’s a shoe that I love, so it just feels natural. That’s the best thing about this whole process.

Football and fashion are closer than ever, and this release is an example of that. How much does that excite you?

A lot. I feel like the clubs and fans understand that players want to express themselves — often through fashion. So, it’s good to see people understand that athletes in general, but especially footballers, can be free to do that. I think a lot of players feel the same way.

I think it’s a really exciting time, with so many conversations evolving on and off the pitch. What are you noticing in the dressing room; are players expressing their fashion more than before?

Yeah, you can definitely see it. Players are accepting and embracing it more than ever, and it’s really evident in the dressing room. Even if you look at Instagram, I think people are seeing the value it can add to expressing who you want to be by showing what you like.

Apart from you, who’s got the best fashion sense at Burnley?

Jacob Brunn Larsen. I like how he dresses. Nathan Redmond, too.

The way you express your style is one that few can rival. It really matches well with where the space is headed, and where I think a lot of us want to see football and players go towards. Can you give me some insight into what inspires it?

It’s something I've always liked to do. Since I was young, I've been looking for inspiration. At first, it was movies like ‘Stomp the Yard’, ‘You Got Served’. I was watching them everyday, and wanted to be like them. I even asked my Dad if I could take dance classes. So, yeah, I've always looked for inspiration from wherever I can. 

Right now, I’ve been loving photo books, as photography has always been something that’s interested me. The last one I went through was ‘Time Before Crack’, and in it there were a lot of people wearing PUMA suedes; that was really cool to see. It’s these books, and places like Pinterest where I find a lot of stuff, but you can find inspiration everywhere. My goal is to show people what I like, because it’s a piece of me.

We’re seeing a blend of modern and older styles in popular fashion, and these shoes slot perfectly into it. In football for example, classic shirts have exploded in popularity lately. How does this crossover of generations make you feel? 

I love it, as it’s something I like to do as well. Like I was saying, I take so much inspiration from decades gone by, and I think they blend well together; the modern and the old. It’s become a lot more common, which I’m enjoying as it’s an element of fashion I’ve always tapped into.