George Baldock: Sheffield United and Leeds pay emotional tribute to defender after death aged 31 | OneFootball

Championship rivals join together to remember the former Blades full-back, who died in Athens last week

The Blades and hosts Leeds joined together to remember Baldock ahead of Friday night’s all-Yorkshire fixture at Elland Road as Championship football returned following the latest international break, with both sets of players wearing black armbands as fans chanted his name during an emotional minute of reflection ahead of kick-off.

Wreaths were also laid by both teams in memory of Baldock, while supporters held up tribute banners in the stands along with Baldock shirts and Greek flags.

The Buckinghamshire-born Baldock began his career at MK Dons, for whom he played for eight years alongside loan spells with the likes of Northampton and Oxford.

He joined Sheffield United in the summer of 2017, going on to make over 200 appearances for the club and twice earning promotion to the Premier League, where he played 83 times.

He left Bramall Lane following the expiration of his contract in the summer, signing a three-year deal with Greek giants Panathinaikos, for whom he made four appearances before his death.

Baldock - younger brother of former Brighton and West Ham striker Sam Baldock - was eligible to represent Greece at international level through his grandmother and made his debut for the country in 2022, going on to earn 12 senior caps in total.

Greece’s players paid their own tributes to Baldock before, during and after last week’s shock 2-1 win over England in the Nations League at Wembley.