Regarded as one of the game's greatest in his position, England’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks, earned 73 caps and who died yesterday, was named FIFA goalkeeper of the year six times
Perhaps best known for his wonder save from Pele during the 1970 World Cup, in Mexico, against Brazil, the star striker paid tribute to him calling him "a fine human being" and "a goalkeeper with magic."
Sir Bobby Charlton, who was part of the 1966 winning team alongside Banks, 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."
Another of the ’66 heroes, Sir Geoff Hurst - who scored a hat-trick in the Final - tweeted: ‘One of the very greatest. Thinking especially of Ursula, Julia, Wendy and Robert. Sad for football, Stoke City and for England fans.’
Ex-England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who replaced Banks at Leicester, tweeted: ‘I'm devastated - today I've lost my hero,’ whilst 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."
Current England and Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling was among the first to pay tribute, also 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.’
The Sheffield-born hero, who also won the League Cup with Stoke and Leicester, before retiring in 1973, 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.
He was 81.
