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Kolkata: After fighting with death for almost one month, legendary footballer PK Banerjee breathed his last breath in a city hospital at 2.08 pm on Friday. He was admitted since February 7. The legendary footballer had been battling a respiratory problem due to pneumonia and was kept in ventilator. He is survived by his two daughters and also left behind a legion of admirers of his unparalleled legacy in football. Easily one of the greatest footballers to have played for the country, PK Banerjee’s death will bring an end to an era. Popularly known by PK in football fraternity, Pradip Kumar Banerjee was like a colossus in Indian football. Two time Olympian Pradip Kumar Banerjee enriched Indian football as a player, coach, administrator and commentator with distinction. Acknowledging these accomplishments, the world governing body of football, FIFA, in 2004, accorded him the Centennial Order of Merit which recognised him as the greatest Indian footballer of the 20th Century. He was conferred with Padmashree Award as well as The Arjuna Award -- he was the country's first footballer to receive it. Pradip Banerjee was born on June 23, 1936 in north-Bengal town of Jalpaiguri. After completing his early studies, he moved to Jamshedpur to pursue further education. He was a very talented footballer and represented Bihar in Santosh Trophy. After spotting his talent he was roped in by Aryan FC in 1954. After a couple of seasons he joined Eastern Railways and immediately made an impact. Eastern Railway was crowned the Calcutta League Champion in 1958, a feat which looked improbable that time due to stiff competition from the Big Three – Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting. PK represented the national team at the age of 19 years, when he played the Quadrangular Tournament in Dhaka in 1955. He was part of the Indian team that played at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. India came tantalizingly close winning an Olympic medal as they finished fourth. The most remarkable performance for India came against hosts Australia, when they beat them 4-2 in the quarter finals. PK was selected as the captain of the Rome Olympics in 1960. He scored the equalizer against France. The best moment of Indian football arrived when he led the country to Asian Games gold in Jakarta in 1962. India beat the formidable South Korea 2-1 in the final. Jarnail Singh and P.K. scored one apiece to down the South Koreans. P.K. also played in the 1958 and 1966 Asian Games. He also represented India on three occasions in the Merdeka Cup in Kuala Lumpur — where India won silver in 1959 and 1964, and the bronze in 1965. After announcing his retirement from the sport in 1967, PK embarked on a new role. He took charge of the national team and under his coaching, India won the bronze in Bangkok Asian Games in 1970 — the last time India won a medal in football at the Games. But his success as a coach gained momentum when he joined East Bengal in 1972. His game reading and man management skills became extremely popular with the fans. He guided East Bengal to the CFL title for a record fifth time in 1975. He also coached Mohun Bagan and helped them achieve the treble by winning the Durand Cup, Rovers Cup and IFA Shield in 1976. With the death of PK Banerjee, an era ended in Indian football.