The Irrepressible Rene Higuita
Goalkeepers: they’re a strange breed. Wild eyed, often crazy, very scary and ultimately a little weird they thrive on being different. This is undoubtedly part of the reason that so many goalkeepers achieve cult, almost mythical, status. Bigger and more outrageous than all of the others Rene Higuita is every bit a cult superhero. Highlights of his illustrious career include being refused entry to the 1994 USA world cup, being caught snorting cocaine in Ecuador and being imprisoned for seven months for kidnapping. The goalscoring, moustache sporting Columbian International had it all.
Rene Higuita’s playing style was every bit as maverick as his off-pitch lifestyle. He was notorious for actively trying to score goals and regularly ventured out of goal with the aim of dribbling around the opposing team. He often succeeded and scored an impressive 38 goals throughout his career. 8 of these were scored during his 68 appearances as Columbia’s number 1. He currently plays in the Columbian 1st Division for Deportivo Pereira where he has scored an unbelievable 5 goals in 12 appearances. Nevertheless he was lambasted at the 1990 world cup when he was dispossessed whilst on a mazy run. The opposing team scored a goal which resulted in Columbia being knocked out. It’s no wonder he is fondly known as ‘el loco’.
He is also responsible for one of the greatest moments of all time. The infamous scorpion kick demonstrated his whimsical attitude to safety. A ball was struck through the air in his direction and instead of collecting it comfortably in his arms he proceeded to flip forward and reverse bicycle kick the ball away. This high risk strategy paid off and very few fans of football can watch this magnificent feat without smiling. The enigmatic Rene Higuita represents all that is weird and wonderful about the men and women that spend their lives between the posts and if there was a prize available would have his hands on the title by January. Thank you ‘el loco’ you have given us so much!
