Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder says he has been left “stunned and numb” by the death of George Baldock.
The England-born Greece international was found dead in the swimming pool of his house in Glyfada, southern Athens on Wednesday at the age of 31.
Baldock left Bramall Lane for Panathinaikos in the summer after making 219 appearances for the Blades, with the majority of them coming under the leadership of Wilder, who is in his second stint in charge of the club.
A visibly emotional Wilder paid tribute to the right-back, who he described as a “huge personality” and key figure in the club’s promotions to the Premier League in 2019 and 2023.
“Obviously through your life you lose people that you love and you respect, but this just feels completely different to everybody. Everybody’s just absolutely stunned and numb really. It is just tragic,” Wilder said.
A fan favourite, Baldock was known as ‘Starman’ to Sheffield United supporters, who would often sing to the tune of the David Bowie song of the same name as the full-back raced down the right flank.
“He wasn’t one to grab the headlines but George was a huge personality, a huge driver, a huge culture carrier in everything we did,” Wilder added, in an interview released by the club., external
“He was a humble person. We had rows, we had bust-ups, but we were all driving it forward and after the same outcome in everything that we did.
“Just even thinking about it now, families have lost a son, players have lost a brother. Those boys that went to battle with George, and he stood up to every challenge.
“He was an absolute pleasure to manage. He gave his maximum in everything he did and that’s what every Sheffield United fan wants.”