It was 2019 when Greek legend Vasilis Torosidis – the successor to Euro 2004 hero Giourkas Seitaridis – retired from international duty after 101 games.
There was a huge void behind the right-back, many talented players tried to step up – and none of them could fill those big boots.
But soon I started hearing rumors of a Greek-born Premier League ace starting week in and week out…
It was none other than George Baldock, born in Buckingham on March 9, 1993, to English parents, but qualified for Greece through his grandmother.
And what a season he had. The right winger played for Sheffield United when they surprised the Prem in the 2019-20 season. – his first in 12 years – finishing in the top half of the table.
Baldock was among their standout players as he logged an incredible 3,420 minutes played – joint-highest with Declan Rice and Virgil van Dijk.
The defender wanted to make a big step onto the international stage with his grandmother’s homeland – and it didn’t take long until he was shaking hands with the leaders of the Hellenic Football Association (EPO).
However, long and tedious paperwork stood in the way – the then Sheffield United star claimed that Covid-19 and Brexit had slowed things down.
Greece finally got the right-back they had been begging for for years as Baldock made his debut on 2 June 2022 in a Nations League match against Northern Ireland as a late substitute.
It didn’t take long until the English-born ace owned the right flank at full-back and impressive performances followed.
Perhaps none compare to the Euro 2024 qualifier against France in June 2023 when Baldock did the unthinkable and kept Kylian Mbappe silent for 104 MINUTES, despite being injured and playing in “unimaginable” pain.
I still remember talking to then Greek manager Gus Poyet about his player’s amazing performance and I will never forget the big smile the Chelsea legend had on his face.
Poyet reminded me of a proud father as he walked me through the injury hell the full-back endured before going up against perhaps the best player in the world for his country.
A beaming Poyet told me: “Against the Republic of Ireland [three days beforehand] – and now that it’s over, I can say it – after 20 minutes he had a really bad ankle sprain, really bad. He was very close to getting out. I asked him, ‘Can you wait until halftime?’
“At halftime his ankle was really, really swollen. He was asking for a strap and he was asking me for five minutes. Give me five minutes and we’ll let you know. And he had an amazing second half running up and down and being outstanding.
“You don’t imagine an ankle after a game. You don’t imagine an ankle the day after, after the flight to France. Black and blue – swollen. And a day and a half later you have to play against Mbappe.
“Ninety percent of people are going to think, no way. And I talk to him all the time, one-on-one. And he keeps telling me, ‘Coach, I’ll be there, no worries.’
“And he didn’t play 20 minutes, he didn’t play 60 minutes, he played 104 minutes because the referee gave 14 minutes of stoppage time against Mbappe.”
It’s easy to see how loyal Baldock was to every team he played for during his 15-year career, just by looking at his stats.
The Greek ace began his career at MK Dons in 2009 where he racked up an incredible 125 appearances during an eight-year spell that also saw him play on loan at Northampton Town, Tamworth, IBV and Oxford United.
The defender joined Sheffield United in 2017 and made an incredible 219 appearances in seven years, also helping his side to two Premier League promotions.
Baldock’s work ethic and dedication was no different in Greece, as he proudly stated two years ago: “Playing for the national team is a great honor and a great pride for me and my family.
“Representing my country through my late grandmother is a very proud moment for me and my family. I love the country and I will fight for every success”
Baldock has never played for England at any level, but he has always competed like a lion, and he proved that on Sunday in his last ever game when he started for Panathinaikos, who he joined this summer, against arch-rivals Olympiacos in perhaps the fiercest derby in Europe.
He did his team credit as he helped them earn a valuable point in a goalless draw against in-form opponents, who had just played their best game of the season with a 3-0 win over Braga in the Europa League a few days back. days earlier.
He played just 12 games for Greece before his sudden and tragic death at the age of 31 on Wednesday in Athens.
But his fighting spirit and charisma at right-back with the white and blue, as well as his remarkable run in the Premier League and Championship, show that he leaves behind a legacy that many Greek and English fans can look up to.
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education