Gordon Banks: World Cup-winning goalkeeper dies aged 81
                                                                                
                                                                                BBC News
                                                                                12 February 2019
                                                                                
                                                                                
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
	
	
                                                                                
                                                                                England's 1966 World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks has died aged 81.
                                                                                
                                                                                Regarded  as one of the game's greatest in his position, Banks was named Fifa  goalkeeper of the year six times and earned 73 caps for England.
                                                                                
                                                                                He is perhaps best known for his wonder save from Pele during the 
1970 World Cup against Brazil.
                                                                                
                                                                                Born in Sheffield, he won the League Cup with Stoke and Leicester, before retiring in 1973.
                                                                                
                                                                                "It is with great sadness that we announce that Gordon passed away peacefully overnight," his family said.
                                                                                
                                                                                "We are devastated to lose him but we have so many happy memories and could not have been more proud of him."
                                                                                
                                                                                Sir  Bobby Charlton, who was part of the team alongside Banks that won the  World Cup in 1966, said: "Gordon was a fantastic goalkeeper, without  doubt one of the best England has ever had.
                                                                                
                                                                                "I was proud to call him a team-mate. Obviously we shared that great day in 1966 but it was more than that. 
                                                                                
                                                                                "Even though I was on the pitch and have seen it many times since, I still don't know how he saved that header from Pele."
                                                                                
                                                                                Banks  is the fourth player of the England team that started the 1966 World  Cup final to have died, after Bobby Moore, Ray Wilson and Alan Ball.
                                                                                
                                                                                Another  of that XI, Sir Geoff Hurst, tweeted: "One of the very greatest.  Thinking especially of Ursula, Julia, Wendy and Robert. Sad for  football, Stoke City and for England fans."
                                                                                
                                                                                Stoke chairman Peter Coates said Banks, who made almost 200 appearances for the club, had been "poorly for a number of weeks".
                                                                                
                                                                                He  told Radio 5 live: "He made his home in Stoke, and was very much part  of the fabric of the club. You don't get too many like him, and he was  immensely modest for all his talent.
                                                                                
                                                                                "He was England's greatest goalkeeper when they had their finest hour."
                                                                                
                                                                                
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
	
	
                                                                                
                                                                                England  and Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling was among the first to pay  tribute, tweeting: "Of course there was that save, but it's so much more  we are mourning today. RIP Gordon Banks. England legend, your legacy  will live on."
                                                                                
                                                                                Former England striker Gary Lineker said: "An  absolute hero of mine, and countless others, England's World Cup winner  was one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, and such a lovely,  lovely man."
                                                                                
                                                                                Ex-England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who replaced Banks at Leicester, tweeted: "I'm devastated - today I've lost my hero."
                                                                                
                                                                                "A  World Cup winner, a legend. RIP Gordon Banks," tweeted Leicester and  England defender Harry Maguire, while Watford keeper Ben Foster said:  "Had the pleasure of meeting you as an 18-year old-with my Dad, and him  being completely star struck by you. Total gent. 
                                                                                
                                                                                You will always be a  member of the Goallys Union."
                                                                                
                                                                                
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
	
	
                                                                                Banks (far left) as England lifted the World Cup in 1966 
                                                                                
                                                                                
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
	
	
                                                                                "I  scored more than 1,000 goals in my life and people don't remember that,  but the goal I didn't score they remember," Pele said of Banks' save in  the 1970 World Cup                                              
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
	
	
                                                                                
                                                                                
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
	
	
                                                                                Banks and Pele became good friends after Banks' wonder save at the 1970 World Cup
                                                                                
                                                                                
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
	
	
                                                                                Banks' statue sits outside Stoke City's stadium
                                                                                
                                                                                'I said 'why didn't you catch it?'
                                                                                
                                                                                Former  England midfielder Alan Mullery played with Banks in the 1970 World Cup  match against Brazil, and described to 5 live the famous save that  denied Pele.
                                                                                
                                                                                "Jairzinho was flying down the wing, and he clips the  ball to the far post, and Pele - who climbed to such a height better  than anybody else - headed the ball and Gordon went from one post to  another and he flicks the ball with his fingertips and it just goes over  the crossbar," he said.
                                                                                
                                                                                "I patted him on his head, and I said 'why didn't you catch it?' and the abuse that came back was unbelievable. 
                                                                                
                                                                                "He  was the best at that time. We had some great goalkeepers in those days,  and the only person I can think came near was Pat Jennings.
                                                                                
                                                                                "He  was an absolutely marvellous goalkeeper. He was a likable man, and when  it came to business, he was probably the best there has ever been."
                                                                                
                                                                                England manager Gareth Southgate paid his tributes, saying: "An  all-time great for England, I was privileged enough to be in his company  on a number of occasions.
                                                                                
                                                                                "It was particularly special to be with  him at a Football Writers' tribute dinner last year and wish him well  on his 80th birthday.
                                                                                
                                                                                "Gordon spoke to the room about that  incredible save from Pele and moments like that from his remarkable  World Cup-winning career will continue to linger long in the memory.
                                                                                
                                                                                "On behalf of everyone connected with England, I send my condolences to his wife Ursula, his family and friends."
                                                                                
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
	
	
                                                                                
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
	
	
                                                                                The German Football Federation paid their tributes on Twitter 
                                                                                
                                                                                
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
	
	
                                                                                Ex-Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright 
                                                                                
                                                                                
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
	
	
                                                                                England and Leicester defender Harry Maguire 
                                                                                
                                                                                
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
	
	
                                                                                England and Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling
                                                                                
                                                                                Banks  started his career at Chesterfield, before joining Leicester in 1959  for £7,000, and it was at the Foxes that he established himself as  England's number one, earning his first international cap in 1963  against Scotland.
                                                                                
                                                                                He played in every game of the 1966 World Cup  campaign, culminating in the 4-2 victory over West Germany in the final  at Wembley.
                                                                                
                                                                                In eight years at Leicester, he was runner-up in two FA Cup finals and won the League Cup in 1964, before joining Stoke in 1967.
                                                                                
                                                                                He  stayed at the Potters until his retirement from professional football,  winning the League Cup again in 1972, the club's only major honour.
                                                                                
                                                                                Later that year he lost the sight in his right eye after a car crash.
                                                                                
                                                                            
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47196017