_(cropped).jpg) Baldock withSheffield United in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | George Henry Ivor Baldock[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1993-03-09)9 March 1993 | ||
| Place of birth | Buckingham, England | ||
| Date of death | 9 October 2024(2024-10-09) (aged 31) | ||
| Place of death | Glyfada, Greece | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Right-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2009 | Milton Keynes Dons | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2017 | Milton Keynes Dons | 104 | (2) |
| 2011 | →Northampton Town (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2012 | →Tamworth (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2012 | →ÍBV (loan) | 16 | (1) |
| 2012 | →Tamworth (loan) | 15 | (1) |
| 2015–2016 | →Oxford United (loan) | 39 | (3) |
| 2017–2024 | Sheffield United | 205 | (6) |
| 2024 | Panathinaikos | 3 | (0) |
| Total | 390 | (13) | |
| International career | |||
| 2022–2024 | Greece | 12 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
George Henry Ivor Baldock (Greek:Τζορτζ Χένρι Άιβορ Μπάλντοκ; 9 March 1993 – 9 October 2024) was an English-Greek professionalfootballer who played as aright-back orright wing-back. Born in England, he represented Greece at the international level.
Baldock started his career atMilton Keynes Dons, where he played 125 total games, and was also loaned toNorthampton Town,Tamworth,ÍBV andOxford United. With the last of those clubs, he made theLeague TwoPFA Team of the Year for2015–16. In 2017, he signed forSheffield United where he spent seven seasons, including three in thePremier League. After making 219 appearances for the club, he joinedPanathinaikos ofSuper League Greece in 2024.
Born in England and with Greek ancestry through his grandmother, Baldock played for theGreece national team on 12 occasions from 2022 until his death in 2024.
Baldock was born inBuckingham,Buckinghamshire, on 9 March 1993.[3][4] He had two brothers, who also worked in football:Sam, an English footballer, and James, a team doctor forOxford United.
Baldock was born inBuckingham,Buckinghamshire, on 9 March 1993.[3][4] He started his career playing forMilton Keynes Dons' academy team. His older brotherSam Baldock also played for the club.[5]
Baldock made his first-team debut for Milton Keynes Dons on 1 May 2010 in theLeague One clash withBrighton & Hove Albion at theStadium:mk which ended in 0–0 draw, coming on as a substitute forDaniel Powell in the 81st minute.[6] Baldock made his full debut for the club on the last day of the 2010–11 season in a League One match againstOldham Athletic.[7]
On 30 October 2011, he joinedNorthampton Town on a month's loan. In March 2012 he joinedTamworth on loan, along with teammateCharlie Collins.[8] He made his debut in a 1–1 league draw againstGateshead and completed the full match.[9] On 3 May 2012, he joined IcelandicÚrvalsdeild clubÍBV on a one-month loan.[10] He made his debut for the club three days later in the opening match of the 2012 season, a 2–1 defeat away atSelfoss. Baldock was handed a one-match ban on 5 June 2012 after collecting four yellow cards in his first six games.[11] He scored his first goal for ÍBV on 20 June 2012 in the 3–1 away win overGrindavík before being substituted for Ragnar Leósson. The following day, the club announced that Baldock's loan spell had been extended until 8 August, meaning he would be eligible to participate in theEuropa League qualifying campaign.[12]
On 3 July 2012, he was given a further one-match suspension after becoming the first player of the season in the Icelandic leagues to reach the limit of seven yellow cards in league and cup matches.[13] Nevertheless, he made his first appearance in European competition two days later after being selected in the starting line-up for the 1–0 defeat to Irish outfitSt Patrick's Athletic in the first leg of the Europa League first qualifying round.[14]
ÍBV announced on 9 August 2012 that Baldock's loan spell with the club had been extended until the end of the month.[15] Following his return from his loan at ÍBV, Baldock linked up on loan once again withConference Premier club Tamworth.[16] He signed with the club until the end of year, along with Dons teammatesCharlie Collins and Jordan Ivey-Ward. George scored his first goal for Tamworth againstWoking in a 3–2 victory.[17] On 19 December 2012, Baldock scored twice for Tamworth as they beatCorby Town away 4–2 in theFA Trophy second-round replay.[18]
Baldock featured several times for Milton Keynes Dons in the first half of the 2014–15 season, including as part of the team involved in the memorable 4–0 win overManchester United in the second round of theLeague Cup on 26 August 2015.[19] On 12 February 2015, Baldock signed a loan deal till the end of the2014–15 season withLeague Two clubOxford United.[20] He went on to play 12 games for the club, He scored a late equaliser in the 1–1 home draw with Morecambe.[21] Baldock returned to Oxford on a season-long loan on 30 June 2015.[22] During his loan Baldock established himself as an integral part of the team, later being named in the 2015–16 League 2PFA Team of the Year for his performances with Oxford.[23][24]
On 28 January 2016, after he impressed during his loan spell with the club, Milton Keynes Dons announced that Baldock had been recalled.[25] On 3 May 2016, having claimed a place as a regular first-team player, Baldock was named the club's Young Player of the Year 2015/16 at the club's end-of-season awards.[26] On 29 July 2016, Baldock signed a contract extension with Milton Keynes Dons, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2018.[27] On 26 November 2016, Baldock made his 100th appearance for the club in a 2–1 win away versusCoventry City.[28]
On 13 June 2017, Baldock was reunited with former Oxford managerChris Wilder when he joined newly promotedChampionship clubSheffield United, on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[29] He scored his first goal for the club on 26 December in a 3–0 win overSunderland atBramall Lane.[30]
On 28 April 2019, Baldock saw the Blades secure promotion to thePremier League following a 12-year absence.[31] He made his top-flight debut on 10 August in a 1–1 draw atA.F.C. Bournemouth, and was praised by Tom Prentki ofThe Daily Telegraph as a "crucial cog" who provided the cross for his team's goal.[32] He signed a new three-year contract at the club on 19 August.[33] On 9 November, he scored his first Premier League goal, equalising in a 1–1 draw away toTottenham Hotspur from a crossed ball.[34] Sheffield United finished the season in 9th place despite being tipped for relegation at the start of the campaign,[35] and Baldock and left-backEnda Stevens were described as "superb" byThe Independent.[36]
Baldock signed a new four-year deal on 12 December 2020, keeping him at the club until 2024.[37] Sheffield United were back in the Premier League for 2023–24, but Baldock was affected by injuries,[38] and the team were relegated.[39] In May 2024, it was announced that he would leave once his contract expired at the end of the2023–24 season.[40]
Baldock was known as "Starman" to Sheffield United fans, who chanted theDavid Bowie song while adding his name. He bought adefibrilator for a young fan with a heart condition, so that the boy could play football.[41]
On 29 May 2024, Baldock joined Greek sidePanathinaikos by signing a three-year contract.[42] He made his debut on 8 August in theUEFA Europa League third qualifying round, first leg, at home toAjax, coming on as a 63rd-minute substitute forGiannis Kotsiras.[43] He played threeSuper League Greece games, the last being a goalless draw at home toOlympiacos in theDerby of the Eternal Enemies on 6 October.[44]
Baldock was ofGreek descent through his grandmother,[45] and was thus eligible to representGreece at an international level as well asEngland.[46] Having obtainedGreek nationality,[47] on 27 May 2022 he was called up to the Greek national team by head coachGus Poyet for the first time ahead of their2022–23 UEFA Nations League June fixtures.[48]
On 2 June 2022, Baldock made his debut for Greece in a 1–0 win overNorthern Ireland atWindsor Park inBelfast.[49]
Baldock was found dead in the pool of his house inGlyfada,Athens, on 9 October 2024.[3][50] He had been due to return to England to celebrate his son's first birthday.[51] After several hours of being unable to reach him, his fiancée in England raised concern, prompting the property owner to discover his body.[52] He was 31 years old.
On 23 July 2025, an inquest atMilton Keynescoroner's court ruled Baldock's cause of death as "accidental drowning". No drugs were found in his system at the time of his death. The post-mortem examination also revealed that Baldock's heart was enlarged and would have been susceptible toarrhythmias.[53]
The day after Baldock's death,Greece played against England (the country of Baldock's birth) in theUEFA Nations League atWembley Stadium. The Greek players had learned of his death the night before the game, and were reported to have barely slept. TheHellenic Football Federation requested thatUEFA postpone the game, but were told that there was no available future date.[51] Greece won the game 2–1, their first ever victory over England, with goalscorerVangelis Pavlidis lifting a Baldock shirt alongside his teammates to celebrate both the first goal and the full-time whistle, and dedicating the victory to him.[54]
On 24 October 2024, Panathinaikos played English clubChelsea in their first home match since the death of Baldock. They remembered him with a live performance of "Starman" by a local band, and displays of his squad number 32. An employee of the visiting club handed over a Milton Keynes Dons shirt with Baldock's name to be displayed in his locker at the training ground.[55]
On 15 July 2025, the players of theGreek national team donated part of their bonus for the team's promotion to the League A of UEFA Nations League to Baldock's family.[56]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Milton Keynes Dons | 2009–10[58] | League One | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010–11[59] | League One | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2011–12[60] | League One | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2012–13[61] | League One | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2013–14[62] | League One | 38 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 46 | 2 | |
| 2014–15[63] | League One | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2015–16[64] | Championship | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 15 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17[65] | League One | 37 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 42 | 0 | |
| Total | 104 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 125 | 2 | ||
| Northampton Town (loan) | 2011–12[60] | League Two | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Tamworth (loan) | 2011–12[60] | Conference Premier | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| ÍBV (loan) | 2012[66] | Úrvalsdeild | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[e] | 0 | 19 | 1 | |
| Tamworth (loan) | 2012–13[67] | Conference Premier | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 3[f] | 2 | 19 | 3 | |
| Oxford United (loan) | 2014–15[63] | League Two | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
| 2015–16[64] | League Two | 27 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 35 | 2 | |
| Total | 39 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 47 | 3 | ||
| Sheffield United | 2017–18[68] | Championship | 34 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 38 | 1 | |
| 2018–19[69] | Championship | 27 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 27 | 1 | ||
| 2019–20[70] | Premier League | 38 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 40 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21[71] | Premier League | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 34 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22[72] | Championship | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[g] | 0 | 27 | 1 | |
| 2022–23[73] | Championship | 36 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 40 | 1 | ||
| 2023–24[74] | Premier League | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 | 0 | ||
| Total | 205 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 219 | 6 | ||
| Panathinaikos | 2024–25[75] | Super League Greece | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[e] | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Career total | 390 | 13 | 28 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 441 | 15 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greece | 2022 | 6 | 0 |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 12 | 0 | |
Sheffield United
Individual
