Article of footwear, and method for manufacturing such an article

A boot or high-top, comprising:

• a liner including an inward surface that encloses an inner void for accommodating a foot, and with an outward surface that defines at least a rear shaft portion, a heel portion, and a sole portion;
• an upper including a midsole portion, and surrounding at least the rear shaft portion, the sole portion, and the heel portion of the liner;
• an insert formed of a material with an increased hardness and stiffness relative to the upper and the midsole portion, and arranged between the liner and the upper with the midsole portion;
• wherein the insert is formed as a single body that includes a heel counter and a shank, the heel counter extending along the heel portion of the liner to surround the heel of the foot, and including a rear wall and side walls that extend up to but exclude an ankle portion of the liner such that the heel counter does not cover the ankle of the foot;
• and wherein the upper and midsole portion are formed of a flexible material that is injection molded directly onto the liner and onto the insert placed on an outward surface of the liner, thereby forming the flexible material as a continuous layer that tightly surrounds and is fixed to the insert and the liner.