Sheffield United paid a moving tribute to former player George Baldock ahead of their Championship match with Leeds United on Friday evening.
Baldock was found dead last Wednesday night after he drowned while swimming in a pool at his home in Athens.
The 31-year-old played more than 200 times for Sheffield United, helping the club achieve two promotions to the Premier League, before joining Greek club Panathinaikos this summer.
Less than 24 hours after his tragic passing, a moving tribute was paid when Greece, who Baldock represented 12 times between 2022 and 2024, played England at Wembley.
And the full-back’s former club side had their chance to finally pay their respects when they returned to action against Leeds at Elland Road.
Both sides wore black armbands to pay their respects, with two of Baldock’s former teammates – Ethan Ampadu and Jack Robinson – laying flowers pitchside.
The travelling away fans unfurled flags and banners in tribute to the former defender before the stadium fell silent for a minute before kick-off.
Speaking before kick-off, Chris Basham paid tribute to his former Blades teammate, telling Sky Sports: ‘I was hit quite hard [by the news]. I played a lot of games with him. I knew he would always be there for us.
‘It wasn’t always merry, it was sometimes feisty between me and him. That’s the kind of character he was, he wanted the best out of himself and everybody else around him.
‘He was the heartbeat of the dressing room. He’d be the first to put the music and get the boys rallied up for a game. He was an outstanding person and an outstanding footballer as well.’
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder, meanwhile, who brought Baldock to the Yorkshire club after working with him at Oxford United, said he was still finding it hard to process the news.
‘It’s been really difficult,’ Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield earlier in the week. ‘It puts everything into perspective, doesn’t it?
‘We’re in the industry of football, we’re football people, but there’s something miles bigger than the game of football on Friday.
‘I’m having to talk about the game, and having to talk about the sad passing of a player that meant so much to everybody here at Sheffield United.’
