England's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks has died at the age of 81.
Banks is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers football has ever seen and was a key component in England's road to World Cup glory on home soil in 1966.
The former Stoke City and Leicester City shot-stopper was still England's number one four years later, when he pulled off the 'Save of the Century' to deny Pele in a 1970 World Cup group game.
Banks went on to win 73 caps for England before his retirement in 1973 and was named as FIFA's Goalkeeper of the Year six years in a row between 1966 and 1971.
Once a champion, always a champion 🦁🏆
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) February 12, 2019
We are deeply sorry to hear of the death of @England World Cup winner @thegordonbanks.
He was one of the game's greatest goalkeepers, a provider of stunning World Cup memories & a gentleman.
Our thoughts are with his family & friends. pic.twitter.com/tsD4c71Ixt
"It is with great sadness that we announce that Gordon passed away peacefully overnight," his family said in a statement.
"We are devastated to lose him but we have so many happy memories and could not have been more proud of him."
Banks began his club career with Chesterfield and went on to make more than 600 combined appearances for Leicester and Stoke.
The legendary keeper won two League Cups during his club career, at Leicester in 1964 and at Stoke in 1972.
Barney Corkhill
