Peter Shilton

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Shilton was a 13-year-old pupil at King Richard III Boys School in Leicester, when he started training at schoolboy level with his local club Leicester City in 1963. He caught the eye of first-team goalkeeper Gordon Banks. In May 1966, a 16-year-old Shilton made his debut for Leicester against Everton. He scored a goal at The Dell against Southampton in October 1967 direct from a clearance. The following season, 1968-69, Leicester suffered relegation from the First Division but reached the FA Cup Final; 19-year-old Shilton became one of the event's youngest-ever goalkeepers. He joined Stoke City in November 1974 for £325,000, a world record for a goalkeeper. He was sold to Nottingham Forest in September 1977. Forest won the League Cup in 1979 and the European Cup in 1979 and 1980. Shilton left Forest for Southampton in 1982. He joined Derby County in the summer of 1987. He left Derby in February 1992 to become player-manager of Plymouth Argyle. He later joined Wimbledon, Bolton Wanderers, Coventry City, West Ham United, and Leyton Orient, where his thousandth League game came on 22 December 1996 against Brighton & Hove Albion.

In Their Own Story

At the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, Shilton faced Diego Maradona in the quarter-final. Maradona scored two infamous goals against him — the first a handball that became known as the 'Hand of God,' the second a dazzling solo run past several England players. Shilton, who had kept clean sheets in earlier rounds, could do little about either. Four years later at Italia '90, Shilton was the bedrock of England's run to the semi-finals, his experience and shot-stopping crucial in tight matches. He finished his international career with 125 caps, the most of any male England player.

Reader's Guide

Shilton's England career spanned from his debut in 1970 to his final cap in 1990, a period of 20 years. He represented England at the FIFA World Cup in 1982, 1986 (where Diego Maradona scored two infamous goals against him) and 1990, and the UEFA European Championship in 1980 and 1988. He holds the record for matches played in the English Football League and the Football League Cup. With 125 caps, he is England's most-capped male player.

Did You Know?

• Shilton shares the record of 10 clean sheets in World Cup finals matches with French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez.
• He held the all-time record for the most competitive appearances in world football (1,387) until 2025.
• Shilton was the subject of This Is Your Life in March 1986.
• He scored a goal for Leicester City against Southampton in October 1967 direct from a clearance.