The legendary goalkeeper lifted the Jules Rimet trophy with England in 1966 and remains the only Leicester City player to have won the FIFA World Cup while with the Football Club.
After signing for Leicester from Chesterfield, he played 356 times for the Foxes between 1959 and 1967 – an important part of an iconic career that would see him establish a firm reputation as one of the greatest goalkeepers to have ever played the game.
Sheffield-born Banks won 73 caps for England between 1963 and 1972, of which, 37 came as a Leicester City player. He represented the Club in the 1961 and 1963 FA Cup Finals, as well as helping them to lift the League Cup in 1964 and reaching the final again the following season.
The goalkeeper was also a key member of City’s famous ‘Ice Kings’ side who challenged for the First Division title in 1962/63 and to this day remains one of the greatest players ever to represent Leicester City Football Club.
Banks, who was awarded an OBE in 1970, went on to play for Stoke City until a car crash resulted in the loss of sight in one eye in 1972. He returned to playing in 1977 to represent Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the United States and won the NASL Goalkeeper of the Year, despite not having the use of his right eye.
He was awarded a testimonial fixture by Leicester City Football Club in 1995, which took place at Filbert Street, while he also has a lounge named in his honour at the Club’s current King Power Stadium home.
During his career, Banks won the FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year award six times, was named in the FIFA 100 list of greatest players of all time and represented England at two FIFA World Cups. He was a key member of the team that beat West Germany 4-2 in the 1966 Final and made what is widely considered the greatest save of all time to deny Brazil’s Pele at the 1970 tournament.
Banks made a total of 754 domestic and international appearances between 1958 and 1977 and leaves a lasting legacy as not only one of the world’s finest goalkeepers, but also one the 20th century’s greatest players in any position.
Everyone at Leicester City Football Club would like to offer their sincere condolences to Gordon’s family and friends at this sad time.
Born: 30/12/1937 (Sheffield)
Playing Career: Chesterfield, Leicester City, Stoke City, Hellenic, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, St. Patrick’s Athletic
Club Honours: League Cup 1964 (Leicester City), League Cup 1972 (Stoke City)
International Honours: FIFA World Cup 1966, British Home Championships 1964/65/66/68/69/70/71/72
Individual Honours: FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year 1966/67/68/69/70/71, FIFA World Cup All Star Team 1966, Order of the British Empire 1970, FWA Footballer of the Year 1972, Football League Hall of Legends 1973, NASL Goalkeeper of the Year 1977, Inaugural Inductee into English Football Hall of Fame 2002, FIFA 100 Greatest Players 2004, PFA Team of the Century 2007
Management Career: Telford United