Schmeichel: Banks Was Legendary, One Of The Best Of All Time

Schmeichel, a Premier League winner with the Foxes in 2016, revealed Banks, who sadly passed away on Tuesday, was one of his main inspirations while growing up with aspirations of becoming a goalkeeper.

The 31-year-old Denmark international talked of how he would discuss Banks’ achievements and ability with father Peter, who himself is regarded of one of the most talented goalkeepers England’s top flight has ever seen.

“He was one of the best of all time, without question,” Schmeichel told LCFC TV. “He was the first legendary goalkeeper that I heard of, and that was through my dad. My dad always talked about Gordon Banks.

“He had a presence about him on the pitch and off the pitch. I’ve never heard anyone say a bad word about him. He’s a World Cup winner, he’s done everything. It’s terribly sad and my condolences go to the entire family.”

The tributes paid to Banks from football fanatics all over the world was evidence of the impact and influence the Sheffield-born Leicester and Stoke City great had on the sport.

For Schmeichel, Banks will always be held in high regard at the Football Club, and the City ‘keeper made reference to an iconic image of him and Peter Shilton that is displayed on a wall in the corridors of Belvoir Drive.

He continued: “As a Leicester City goalkeeper, you know the kind of responsibilities and the legacy that is left at this club through some of the goalkeepers we have. When we come into the training ground, we have three pictures.

“We have a picture of our Chairman and Top, a picture of Birch and we have an amazing picture of Gordon Banks with Peter Shilton. That’s a huge attraction. Every time I bring guests to the training ground, that picture is the one that everyone wants to have a picture with. It’s such an amazing photograph.

“The legacy that this club has from great goalkeepers, from Banks, to Shilton, to Kasey Keller, to Tim Flowers. There are so many that you can mention. That’s something, as a current Leicester City goalkeeper, you know and you feel.

“To play for the same club as those legendary names is a great honour.”

The characteristics that Banks possessed as a goalkeeper allowed him to make what is widely regarded as one of the greatest saves ever made, when he clawed Brazil superstar Pelé’s header from underneath the crossbar at the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Schmeichel said: “Obviously, he was before my time where I was able to see him live or anything like that, but from the videos, I just wish there was HD video back then so that I could really have seen the intricate details that goalkeepers look for and see. From what I’ve seen, he was so agile and he was so quick.

“The saves that he pulled off were amazing. Everyone will always remember the save against Pelé. Obviously, because it was against Pelé, it will always be even better because it was against such a legendary player as well. It’s quite rightly regarded as the save of the century.

“I don’t talk a lot about football with my father, but that save, we’ve talked about many, many times. The more you watch it, the better it gets.”

Schmeichel had the opportunity to meet childhood idol Banks once, but that single occasion was enough for him to experience his warm and kind aura.

“I met him very briefly, once,” added Schmeichel. “It’s one of those moments where [you think] ‘wow, it’s Gordon Banks’. He’s a legend as a goalkeeper.

“Maybe as strikers, people look up to [Lionel] Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo, and all these kinds of people, but Gordon Banks has that kind of influence and that kind of status among goalkeepers.

“I met him very briefly and I wish I could have known him more, but from what I hear from people, I’ve never heard anything, or anyone say anything bad about him. Everyone’s always had so many nice things to say about him.

“The way he has helped the community, both in Stoke and in Leicester, is a testament to him as a person as well.”