Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder says he has been left ‘stunned and numb’ following the tragic death of his former player George Baldock.
The football world was left shocked on Wednesday when it emerged that Baldock, 31, passed away at his home in Athens after drowning while swimming in his pool.
Baldock only recently moved to Greece, joining Panathinaikos in the last summer transfer window to end a seven-year spell with Sheffield United.
Wilder, currently in his second stint as boss of the Blades, knew the English defender extremely well having managed him across his first spell in charge.
‘I’m just stunned really,’ Wilder said in a video posted on Sheffield United’s official X account.
‘I’m quite matter of fact, I think we’re getting to that age where we’re going to more and more funerals.
‘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’s just tragic.’
Affectionally known as ‘Starman’ by Sheffield United fans, Baldock helped the club achieve promotion to the Premier League in 2019.
He was also part of the Blades team that impressively finished ninth in the top-flight the following season under Wilder.
‘He wasn’t one to grab the headlines,’ Wilder added. ‘But George was a huge personality, a huge driver, a huge culture carrier. George epitomised everything on the pitch and off the pitch.
‘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.’