Banks won 73 caps for England between 1963 and 1972 and made nearly 200 appearances for Stoke before his playing career was brought to an end in a car crash that cost him his sight in one eye. Widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers to have played the game, Banks will probably be best remembered for the diving stop he made to deny Brazil’s Pele at the 1970 World Cup, which later became known as the ‘save of the century’.

“It is with great sadness that we announce that Gordon passed away peacefully overnight,” Banks’ family said in a statement posted on Stoke’s official website. “We are devastated to lose him, but we have had so many happy memories and could not have been more proud of him.”

Banks played every game in the 1966 World Cup, including the 4-2 victory over West Germany in the final at Wembley — the only time England won the world title. Four years later though, in Mexico, he produced one of the most outstanding saves in the history of the tournament in a group game in which Brazil beat England 1-0.

Pele rose to head a cross from the byline, thundering the header down towards Banks’ right hand post. The ball appeared to be past Banks, but his agility and strength saw him get down and palm it high and wide to safety. Thirty-eight years later, Pele travelled to Stoke to unveil a statue of Banks and recalled the save.

“From the moment I headed it, I was sure it had gone in,” he had said. “After I headed the ball, I had already begun to jump to celebrate the goal. Then I looked back and I couldn’t believe it hadn’t gone in. I have scored more than a thousand goals in my life, and the thing people always talk to me about is the one I didn’t score.”