Gordon Banks: Football world pay tribute to England 1966 legend and that incredible save vs Brazil following news of his death

Almost immediately after news of Gordon Banks’ death emerged, footballers past and present, as well as clubs, queued up to pay their respects.

The great goalkeeper was one of the heroes of England’s 1966 World Cup triumph, but he has amazingly become better known for the outrageous save that kept out a Pele header in Mexico four years later.

England still lost that game, as they did their quarter-final against old rivals West Germany – a defeat many attribute to Banks’ absence with a mysterious stomach bug.

At club level, Banks made 510 league appearances for Chesterfield, Leicester and Stoke and the latter led the tributes on Tuesday morning.

“It is with great sadness that we announce that Gordon passed away peacefully overnight,” a statement from Banks’ family on Stoke’s website read.

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

“We would ask that the privacy of the family is respected at this time.”

Among those offering their condolences were Manchester City and current England international Raheem Sterling, Three Lions legend Paul Gascoigne, as well as 1966 hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst.