René Higuita was born on August 27, 1966 in Medellín (Barrio Castilla). He has played 68 international matches for the Colombian national team, in which he scored three goals.

Higuita played the majority of his club career with Colombian side Atlético Nacional, where he helped the team win the Colombian League as well as the Copa Libertadores and Copa Interamericana.

He is famed for inventing the “scorpion kick”, a clearance where the keeper jumps forward, arches his legs over his head and in doing so, kicks the ball away with his heels. This save earned him notoriety when he pulled it off in a friendly game against England in September, 1995, blocking a mistaken cross by Jamie Redknapp.

On the pitch, Higuita was known for having an eccentric playing style, taking unnecessary risks, and actively trying to score goals. He is also prone to blunders, and it was a mistake by him that knocked Colombia out of the 1990 World Cup, where he seemingly dithered with the ball at his feet 35 yards from goal enabling Cameroon striker Roger Milla to dispossess him and score, putting his team through to the quarter-finals. As a result of such behaviour, Higuita was nicknamed “El Loco” by media and fans alike.

Higuita revolutionized goalkeeper’s role with his tricks and will to enjoy. The “scorpions blow” is his trademark, a tribute to his spectacular way of playing that is now in football history, the symbol of his football philosophy.