| Rene Higuita, born José René Higuita | | | | line. You might think this is a very dangerous move for |
| Zapata on the 27 August 1966 is known the world | | | | a goalkeeper, but because Rene had such exceptional |
| over for being one of the best goal keepers of the | | | | ball control and skill, he rarely (if ever) lost the ball, so |
| past generation, if not all time. So what is it the makes | | | | his presence out on pitch was almost like playing with |
| Rene so well known and appreciated? It is a fact that | | | | 12 men instead of 11. |
| he clearly had some great goalkeeping skills (such as | | | | The classic Rene Higuita moment is when Columbia |
| quick reactions, great handling, great positioning and | | | | were playing England in a friendly (he played for |
| concentration), but there is far more to Rene's game | | | | Columbia, of course) and England had a shot from a |
| then that, as we'll soon discover. | | | | long way out. The ball appeared to be going right over |
| When I first saw a video of Rene Higuita (sadly he | | | | Rene's head and into the back of the net before he |
| was slightly before my time) I was amazed. He played | | | | launched himself forward, flicking his legs bag in the air |
| like no other goal keeper that I have ever seen (and I | | | | and kicking the ball away. This move has forever been |
| watch a lot of football), as he is so comfortable on the | | | | known as the 'scorpion kick', since his legs mimicked |
| ball and often dribbles the ball right out to the half way | | | | that of a scorpion's tail. |