Leicester City: Kasper Schmeichel can be one of the best goalkeepers around, says World Cup winner Gordon Banks

Exclusive: Former Leicester and England goalkeeper backs Schmeichel to continue his rise as one of the most exciting shot-stoppers in world football

Kasper Schmeichel holds the Premier League trophy aloft as Leicester City are crowned champions (Getty)

Gordon Banks, the legendary former England goalkeeper, has backed Kasper Schmeichel to become one of the best goalkeepers in the world after helping Leicester City win the Premier League.

The 29-year-old was ever-present for Claudio Ranieri’s men as they marched to a remarkable first title in their 132-year history, defying 5,000/1 odds to rise above the established order and beat Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur across the line.

Banks, the former Leicester goalkeeper between 1959 and 1967, says the influence of Schmeichel’s father, Peter, who won five titles at Manchester United in the 1990s, is an “obvious” factor in his unstoppable rise but believes the Leicester shot-stopper can improve further in the Champions League.

“Kasper is a great goalie,” the 78-year-old said at Wembley. “His dad has obviously coached him. That’s pretty obvious to me. He’s got composure, agility. He’s got everything, he can be one of the best. I’ve never seen anyone release the ball like he does.

“You can have the winger [Riyad] Mahrez standing way out wide, and it goes straight to him. I can’t believe what I’m watching, I’m thinking how the hell’s he done that? He is a terrific goalie.”

Banks, capped 73 times for his country until retiring from international football in 1972, was invited to join Leicester’s title celebrations after their final home match last season, a 3-1 demolition of Everton at the King Power Stadium.

Despite pessimism dominating the discussion over Leicester's credentials during the campaign, the Sheffield-born World Cup hero says he never doubted his former club would triumph.

He added: “I swear to you now, and I’m not being clever, when I started to talk to people about Leicester, I told them half way through the season they deserve to win it. They will stay there, I said, because they had a confidence, a style.”

Gordon Banks is supporting the new-look Wembley Tour, connected by EE - the world’s most technologically advanced stadium tour in the world - which launches at Wembley Stadium on Monday 18th July. Head to www.wembleystadium.com/tour for more information or to book tickets.