George Baldock Rest in Peace Starman | OneFootball

Yesterday, it was announced that George Baldock had tragically passed away at his home in Greece.

A Blades legend, a brilliant man, a beloved footballer and our Starman. Our thoughts at Sheff United Way are with his family, friends and teammates. Today we remember his career.

George was born in Buckingham on the 9th of March 1993, he was the younger brother of striker, Sam Baldock.

(Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images)

His football career began in the MK Dons academy, a club he played for with his brother. On the 1st of May 2010, George debuted for the club against Brighton coming on as a substitute.

George spent time on loan with Northampton and Tamworth in 2011 and 2012 before breaking into the MK Dons team.

Following these loans, George was sent on a further loan to Icelandic side, Íþróttabandalag Vestmannaeyja (IBV) where he played 19 games and scored one goal.

His breakout season came in 2013-2014. He made 46 appearances for MK Dons in all competitions under Karl Robinson. His two goals for the club were scored in this season either side of a game against the Blades.

Despite becoming a fixture of Robinson’s side, George was loaned out the following season to then League Two side Oxford United. He was twice loaned out to the U’s being managed by Michael Appleton.

In his second season at the Kassam Stadium, George and his teammates achieved some incredible feats in the cups.

In the League Cup, they beat Championship side Brentford 4-0 away from home to record their highest scoring League Cup away win in the club’s history.

(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

In the FA Cup, the club reached the fourth round and in the third round they knocked out Premier League Swansea City 3-2, with George played alongside future Blades teammate John Lundstram.

In January, George was recalled by MK Dons, and despite only playing half of his second season with the club, he was named in the 2015-16 League 2 PFA Team of the Year.

Upon his MK Dons return, he made 15 Championship appearances as the side were relegated back to League One. Despite this, George showed his impressive ability at the level and was named the MK Dons Young Player of the Year.

In his final season for the club, George made 42 appearances for MK Dons as the team finished 12th in League One. It was time for George to make the first permanent move of his career.

George signed for Sheffield United in the summer of 2017 with the Blades ready for a Championship return.

Every legend needs a theatre to showcase their talent and from the day he signed George was impressed with his new home.

On Bramall Lane, he said: “It’s something else isn’t it. I can’t wait. This is the kind of place you want to play a packed house.”

George’s first season for Sheffield United was a success the Blades secured a top-half finish and despite the competition for a place in the side from Kieron Freeman, it was only the beginning.

His second season for the Blades was one to remember for all Blades everywhere as the side finished in the automatic promotion places and as of the final whistle against Ipswich Town, George Baldock was a Premier League Player.

The Blades return season to the Premier League will be remembered for a number of reasons and George played every minute. The club recorded their highest finish in the Premier League in its history and at one time looked destined for Europe. A major reason for the club’s success was it’s back five.

Almost like a Blades boyband, George Baldock, Chris Basham, John Egan, Jack O’ Connell and Enda Stevens will forever be remembered for not only their innovative attacking moves and incredible defensive displays but also their togetherness that cracked the Premier League code.

In the next season, the Blades were relegated to the Championship. Halfway through the season, George signed a new four-year deal with the club.

On signing his new deal, he said: “I’ve had the best times of my footballing career at this club. I have a good affiliation with the fans.”

In the next two seasons the Blades remained in the Championship failing to gain promotion by the playoffs in 2022. Then in 2023, the side repeated the trick of four years prior. Another second placed promotion.

On his Premier League return, having been with the club for six years, he played 13 games as the Blades were relegated.

In Summer 2024, at the expiration of the contract he signed in 2020, George left the club for Panathinaikos, where he played four games.

No words can explain what George meant to Sheffield United and to everyone who met him, this is seen in the number of tributes that have been made since the awful news of his passing.

We would like to again say our thoughts are with his family, friends and former teammates.

We’ll end with the words he left the club with.

“It was the best decision of my life joining this club. Keep supporting the club and the staff and hopefully the club can get back to where we all want it to be. I leave here as a massive fan of the club. Thank you.”

Thank you and Rest in Peace, United’s No. 2 George Baldock. Once a Blade. Always a Blade…