René Higuita facts for kids
Higuita in 2007
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | José René Higuita Zapata | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 27 August 1966 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Medellín, Colombia | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Current team
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Atlético Nacional (goalkeeper coach) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Millonarios | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1985 | Millonarios | 16 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1986–1991 | Atlético Nacional | 112 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1992 | Real Valladolid | 15 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1993–1997 | Atlético Nacional | 69 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1998 | Veracruz | 30 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2000 | Independiente Medellín | 20 | (11) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2001 | Real Cartagena | 21 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2002 | Atlético Junior | 4 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2003 | Deportivo Pereira | 13 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | Aucas | 35 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | Guaros FC | 10 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Deportivo Rionegro | 10 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | Deportivo Pereira | 12 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 380 | (40) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1987–1999 | Colombia | 68 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||
José René Higuita Zapata (born on August 27, 1966) is a famous former football player from Colombia. He played as a goalkeeper. People called him El Loco, which means "The Madman," because of his exciting and risky way of playing. He was known for leaving his goal area and even scoring goals!
Higuita's unique style of playing, first seen by many during the 1990 FIFA World Cup, changed how goalkeepers thought about their role. He showed that goalkeepers could do more than just stay in front of the goal.
IFFHS (International Federation of Football History & Statistics) said Higuita was the 8th best South American goalkeeper ever. He is also one of the top 10 goalkeepers who scored the most goals, with 41 goals in his career.
Contents
Early Life
René Higuita was born in Castilla, a neighborhood in Medellín, Colombia. His father left the family when René was young, so his mother raised him. After his mother passed away, his grandmother, Ana Felisa, took care of him.
Club Career Highlights
Higuita began his football journey with Millonarios. In 1986, he joined Atlético Nacional, where he spent most of his club career. With Atlético Nacional, he helped his team win the Colombian League twice. They also won the Copa Libertadores and Copa Interamericana in 1989. In the Copa Libertadores final, Higuita was a hero. He saved four penalties and even scored one himself during the penalty shootout!
After leaving Atlético Nacional, he played for Real Valladolid in Spain for one season. He then returned to Atlético Nacional for four more years. Later, he played for other teams like Veracruz in Mexico and Independiente Medellín in Colombia. He briefly stopped playing in 2005.
However, Higuita returned to football on July 21, 2007, joining the Venezuelan club Guaros FC. In January 2008, at 41 years old, he signed with a Colombian second-division team, Deportivo Rionegro. He then played for Deportivo Pereira in June 2008 and officially retired from playing on January 25, 2010.
International Career
Higuita's first big tournament with the national team was the 1987 Copa América. In the 1990 FIFA World Cup, he played a key role in helping Colombia reach the round of 16 for the first time.
During that World Cup, Higuita's very unusual playing style led to a memorable moment. He tried to trick Cameroon striker Roger Milla far from his goal. Milla took the ball and scored, which caused Colombia to be knocked out of the World Cup. Higuita called it "a mistake as big as a house." This moment further cemented his nickname, El Loco.
He also played in the 1991 Copa América, where Colombia finished fourth. His last time playing for the national team was in the 1999 Copa América. Higuita often took free-kicks and penalties for the Colombia national team. He scored three goals in his 68 international games.
Playing Style
Higuita was famous for his exciting and bold way of playing football. He was calm under pressure and often took risks. He would frequently leave his goal area to stop opponents, pass the ball to his defenders, or even dribble the ball himself. This made him a pioneer of the 'sweeper-keeper' style, where the goalkeeper acts almost like an extra defender. He also became known for scoring goals directly from free-kicks and penalties.
The IFFHS recognized Higuita as the 8th best goalkeeper in South American history.
The Scorpion Kick
René Higuita is widely known for inventing the amazing scorpion kick. This move involves a player jumping forward, arching their back, and kicking the ball over their head with their heels.
One of Higuita's most famous scorpion kicks happened during a friendly match against England at Wembley Stadium on September 6, 1995. He used it to clear a cross from Jamie Redknapp. This incredible moment gained him a lot of attention from the media. It was even ranked 94th in Channel 4's 100 Greatest Sporting Moments in 2002.
Coaching Career
After retiring as a player, Higuita wanted to coach the Colombia national team. In December 2008, he became the goalkeeper coach for his former club, Real Valladolid.
From 2011 to 2016, he worked as the goalkeeper coach for Al Nassr FC in Saudi Arabia.
On June 28, 2017, he returned to Atlético Nacional as their goalkeeping coach. He said that coming back to Atlético Nacional was "the dream of my life."
Personal Life
René Higuita is married to Magnolia, and they have two children named Andrés and Pamela. He also has a daughter named Cindy Carolina from his first marriage. He is a grandfather to two girls and a boy.
Higuita was good friends with the famous Argentine football player Diego Maradona. He even played in Maradona's farewell match in 2001.
In July 2024, the online casino and sportsbook company Betsson, which is popular in Colombia, announced Higuita as one of their brand ambassadors.
Honours and Awards
Atlético Nacional
- Copa Libertadores: 1989; runner-up 1995
- Copa Interamericana: 1989, 1995
- Intercontinental Cup: runner-up 1989
- Categoria Primera A: 1991, 1994
Colombia National Team
- Copa América Third place: 1987, 1993, 1995
Individual Awards
- South American Team of the Year: 1989, 1990
- Golden Foot Legends Award: 2009
Images for kids
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Higuita in 2007
See also
In Spanish: René Higuita para niños
