10 Best English Footballers of all Time

#3 Gordon Banks (1963-72)

Appearances: 73

Banks makes his legendary save from Pele's header at the 1970 World Cup

Quite simply; Gordon Banks is England's finest ever goalkeeper.

Peter Shilton may be England's most capped shot stopper and indeed his country's most capped player full stop, but Shilton could not match Banks's achievements between the sticks for England.

Banks's was named FIFA's goalkeeper of the year on six occasions and it's easy to see why. Making his debut for his country in 1963, he soon established himself as England's full time number one in place of Ron Springett.

Entering the 1966 World Cup, England had only lost one of their past 21 matches, a defeat to Austria, in which Banks did not play.

Banks's expert positioning and quick reflexes made him extremely difficult to beat and England's defence was crucial to their 1966 World Cup win. Banks did not concede a goal until the Semi-Finals versus Portugal and that was a penalty.

Famously, Banks was defeated twice in the World Cup Final by two goals which were caused by uncharacteristically poor England defending which left the keeper with little chance.

Banks made several great saves in Extra-Time as England scored twice to win the World Cup, 4-2.

However, probably Banks's most famous moment in an England shirt came at the subsequent World Cup in 1970. After keeping a clean sheet in England's opener versus Romania, Banks had the unenviable task of trying to keep the world's best player, Pele at bay as well as the other attacking forces of Brazil.

In one of the greatest saves ever, Banks showed incredible reflexes to deny a powerful, pinpoint header from Pele out of the net. Meeting Jairzinho's cross, Pele met the ball with his head directing it downward to Banks's right. Banks leapt to the floor and with an outstretched hand, shocked the world by scooping the ball over the crossbar. Banks did concede his first goal of the tournament however, when Jairzinho scored the only goal of the game in the second period.

Banks suffered with illness after the group stages and therefore missed England's Quarter-Final bout with West Germany, wherein his understudy, Peter Bonetti conceded three late goals as England spurned a two goal lead.

Banks played for England for a further two years before retiring from England duty with a stunning record of 35 clean sheets in 73 appearances.