Alexander Merkel's Nike match issued boots. This special made to measure boots
were issued for the season 2011/2012. Both boots are personalized with "AM52"
and a flag of Germany and Russia. Born in Kazakhstan to Russian parents of
German ancestry,Merkel moved to Germany with them in 1998, aged 6. There he
started playing football with amateur team JSG Westerwald, before joining VfB
Stuttgart at the age of 11.Merkel made his international debut for Germany U-15
in a 4–1 win against Switzerland and has since represented Germany at all levels
of youth international football up to under-19. In a December 2010 interview, he
stated that he "dreams" of going on to play for the senior team one day.