Harry Maguire has paid tribute to former Sheffield United star George Baldock after he was found dead at his home in Greece on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old made over 400 appearances in English football and spent seven years with the Blades, twice earning promotion to the Premier League, before joining Greek side Panathinaikos this summer.
Baldock also won 12 senior caps for Greece, having qualified to represent the country through his grandmother.
In a post on Instagram, Maguire shared a photo of Baldock with the caption ‘RIP’ accompanied by a broken heart emoji.
Sheffield United paid tribute to their former player with a post on their official X account.
Tributes have poured in from across the football world following the death of George Baldock
Harry Maguire shared a photo of the former Sheffield United defender to his Instagram story
‘Sheffield United Football Club is shocked and extremely saddened to learn of the passing of former player, George Baldock.
‘The defender left the club in the summer after seven years at Bramall Lane and was extremely popular with supporters, staff and team-mates who pulled on a red and white shirt alongside him.
‘The sincere condolences of everyone associated with Sheffield United are extended to George’s family and friends.
After graduating from MK Dons’ academy, Baldock spent part of the 2011/12 campaign on loan at Northampton and the club shared their condolences on social media.
It read: ‘We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former loanee George Baldock at the tragically young age of 31.
‘George made 5 appearances in 2011 before playing for Oxford United and Sheffield United. Sending our sincerest condolences to George’s family and friends.’
A Sheffield United supporter on social media wrote: ‘Just been sat watching the George Baldock news unfold. Speechless. Heartbroken.
‘A fantastic footballer and a brilliant man who understood what it meant to be a Blade. A Sheffield United legend and a hero to a generation of Blades. RIP starman.’
Baldock was an integral component of Chris Wilder’s side that stormed into the top flight after finishing second in the Championship the previous season.
The full-back was one of only three players to start all 38 of the Blades’ league games in the 2019-20 campaign as they finished ninth, just five points off the European places.
More to follow
