England’s World Cup-Winning Goalkeeper Gordon Banks Has Died

One of the best goalkeepers in the history of the sport, Banks was named Federation Internationale de Football Association goalkeeper of the year on six separate occasions and was remembered by many for producing one of the world's greatest saves against Pele in the 1970 World Cup.

At the next World Cup in Mexico in 1970, Banks scurried across his line and dived to his right to stop a downward header from Pele.

They said: "It is with great sadness that we announce that Gordon passed away peacefully overnight".

"I had the privilege of becoming good friends with him over the years because we are from the same era and he was an opponent of mine on many occasions".

England World Cup victor Gordon Banks has died at the age of 81.

The Germany team's official English-language Twitter feed showed it had long forgotten the bitter taste of defeat in saluting the 73-times capped goalkeeper.

While his slender frame meant he was not the most imposing of goalkeepers, Banks's movement and agility saw him command his area.

He added that despite all of his achievements, including winning three world cups, the thing people ask him about most is the Banks save.

Southgate - who reignited the kind of modesty of spirit and fairplay engendered by the 1966 side that has been largely missing in England teams since that era - said he had enjoyed spending time with an "all-time great".

Banks was named the second best goalkeeper of the 20th century by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS), behind Lev Yashin.

He played just under 300 times for Leicester before moving to Stoke in 1967, where he made 194 appearances in six years at the club, winning the League Cup with both clubs.

Around the city, where Banks is a revered figure and was often seen at charity and football events, flags were lowered at public buildings, and local radio talk-shows were inundated with calls remembering him.

One of Pickford's predecessors at Everton, Welsh icon Neville Southall, was coached by Banks, who retired from the game in 1973 having lost an eye in a vehicle crash in October 1972.

But he joked that the former Stoke goalkeeper, who won the League Cup in 1972, should have caught the ball when denying Pele. RIP Gordon Banks. @England legend, your legacy will live on.