René Higuita
Colombian footballer (born 1966) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Higuita and the second or maternal family name is Zapata.
José René Higuita Zapata (Spanish pronunciation: [reˈne jˈɣita]; born 27 August 1966) is a Colombian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He was nicknamed El Loco ("The Madman") for his high-risk 'sweeper-keeper' playing style and his flair for the dramatic, and sometimes even scoring goals despite being a goalkeeper.
Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...
![]() Higuita in 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | José René Higuita Zapata | |||||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | (1966-08-27) 27 August 1966 (age 57) | |||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Medellín, Colombia | |||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | |||||||||||||||||||
Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | 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 | (41) | ||||||||||||||||||
International career | ||||||||||||||||||||
1987–1999 | Colombia[2] | 68 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Close
Higuita's style of play, which was first shown to a global audience during the 1990 FIFA World Cup, was pioneering in influencing goalkeepers to take more responsibility for situations farther from the goal.[3]
IFFHS ranked Higuita the 8th best South American keeper in history.[4] He is also ranked as one of the 10 highest-scoring goalkeepers in history, with 41 goals overall.[5]