THE MAN WHO STOPPED PELE
World Cup-winning goalie who made ‘that’ save dies at 81
GOALKEEPING great Gordon Banks – forever remembered for his World Cup wonder save from Pele – has died aged 81.
Tributes poured in for Banks, who also won the 1966 World Cup with England, including from the Brazil legend. Pele said: “Rest in peace, my friend. Yes, you were a goalkeeper with magic. But you were also so much more. You were a fine human being.” Banks was named FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year six times and earned 73 caps for England. Born in Sheffield, he won the League Cup with Stoke and Leicester, before retiring in 1973.
His family yesterday said: “It is with great sadness 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.”
Stoke chairman Peter Coates said Banks had been “poorly for a number of weeks”.
Ex-England midfielder Alan Mullery, who played with Banks in the 1970 World Cup match against Brazil, relived the save that denied Pele. He said: “Pele headed the ball and Gordon went from one post to another and he flicks the ball with his fingertips and it just goes over the crossbar.
“I patted him on his head, and I said, ‘Why didn’t you catch it?’ The abuse that came back was unbelievable.”
Bobby Charlton, who was also in the World Cup-winning side, said: “Gordon was a fantastic goalkeeper – one of the best England has ever had.
“I still don’t know how he saved that header from Pele.”
Former England striker Gary Lineker said: “He was one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time and such a lovely, lovely man.”