Gordon Banks death: World Cup winning England goalkeeper dies, aged 81

Gordon Banks, England’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper, has died aged 81.

The legendary England footballer, who was part of the victorious 1966 World Cup side, passed away overnight on Monday.

A statement issued by Stoke City on behalf of the Banks family read: “From the family of Gordon Banks.

“It is with great sadness that we announce that Gordon passed away peacefully overnight.

“We are devastated to lose him but we have so many happy memories and could not have been more proud of him.

Banks started his professional football career with Chesterfield in the old third division, but after just one season secured a move to Leicester City where he made 356 appearances over eight seasons between 1959 and 1967.

While with Leicester Banks won the 1964 League Cup, and his form earned him international recognition in 1963 with his first England call-up. England manager Sir Alf Ramsey promoted Banks to his first-choice goalkeeper and in 1966 he played every minute of England’s World Cup campaign as they triumphed on home soil.

In total, Banks made 73 appearances for England and is regarded by many as the greatest goalkeeper in the Three Lions’ history.

On top of the World Cup triumph, Banks was named Fifa Goalkeeper of the year for five consecutive years between 1966 and 1971, and was voted the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year in 1972.

Following the 1966 World Cup, Banks moved to Stoke City where he went on to become a club icon, making 250 appearances in seven years until his departure for the United States in 1973. Banks won the League Cup for a second time in 1972, with a First Division-high finish of ninth in 1969/70.

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