René Higuita

René Higuita
Higuita in 2007
Personal information
Full name José René Higuita Zapata
Date of birth (1966-08-27) 27 August 1966
Place of birth Medellín, Colombia
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
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 (40)
International career
1987–1999 Colombia 68 (3)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Colombia
Copa América
1987 Argentina
1993 Ecuador
1995 Uruguay
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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.

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.

IFFHS ranked Higuita the 8th best South American keeper in history. He is also ranked as one of the 10 highest-scoring goalkeepers in history, with 41 goals overall.