England legend Gordon Banks dies at 81

In this file photo taken on October 27, 2015 Former England international footballer Gordon Banks waves to the fans ahead of the English League Cup fourth round football match between Stoke City and Chelsea at the Britannia Stadium in Stoke-on-Trent, central England on October 27, 2015. [Photo: AFP/ OLI SCARFF]

England's legendary World Cup winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks has died at the age of 81.

The goalkeeper's family confirmed his death in a statement on the Stoke City website which read: "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.

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

In this Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016 file photo former England goalkeeper Gordon Banks talks to the media at the Royal garden Hotel in London. English soccer club Stoke said Tuesday Feb. 12, 2019 that World Cup-winning England goalkeeper Gordon Banks has died at 81. [File Photo: AP/Alastair Grant]

Banks played 73 times for England, including the triumphant 1966 World Cup and the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, where he made what many consider to be the greatest save ever made by a goalkeeper, to deny legendary Brazil forward Pele in a group stage game that Brazil eventually won 1-0.

In this file photo taken on July 30, 1966 England's national soccer team captain Bobby Moore (C) holds aloft the Jules Rimet World Cup trophy as he is carried by his teammates including (from L) Gordon Banks, Alan Ball, Roger Hunt, Geoff Hurst, Ray Wilson, George Cohen and Bobby Charlton, following England's victory over Germany (4-2 in extra time) in the World Cup final 30 July 1966 at Wembley stadium in London. [Photo: AFP]

Banks played his club career with Leicester City making just under 300 appearances, before moving to Stoke City in 1967, where he played 194 times, becoming club president later in his life.