Greek international Baldock, 31, discovered dead in a pool: state agency.
Panathinaikos and Greece international defender George Baldock was discovered dead in his swimming pool on Wednesday, according to Greek news reports.
The 31-year-old right-back, originally from England, passed away at his home in Glyfada, a southern suburb of Athens, according to state agency ANA.
Greece’s Super League and various football clubs offered their condolences.
State broadcaster ERT reported that Baldock was found “at the bottom of the pool,” with a bottle of alcohol nearby.
ANA stated that Baldock’s wife, who was abroad, contacted the property owner after being unable to reach him by phone.
Police and an ambulance were present at the scene, and a coroner was called to examine the body, according to ERT.
Baldock had signed with Panathinaikos in May after seven years at Sheffield United, which was relegated from the Premier League to the Championship last season.
Of Greek descent through his father, Baldock was called up to the Greek national team in 2022.
He earned 12 caps but was not selected for Greece’s Nations League match against England at Wembley on Thursday due to injury, ERT reported.
Baldock played 75 minutes in Panathinaikos’ 0-0 draw with Olympiacos in a Greek Super League match on Sunday.
‘One of our own’
In tribute to Baldock, the Greece national team’s official website and his club’s social media accounts on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook were blacked out.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, a former Sheffield United teammate, posted “RIP” with a heartbreak emoji alongside a photo of Baldock on Instagram.
Sheffield United updated their homepage with a black-and-white photo of Baldock, accompanied by the message: “RIP George Baldock.”
“Sheffield United Football Club is shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former player, George Baldock,” the club stated.
Northampton Town, where Baldock had a loan spell in 2011, posted on X: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former loanee George Baldock at the tragically young age of 31.
“George made five appearances for us in 2011 before moving on to Oxford United and Sheffield United. We send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.”
His boyhood club, MK Dons, expressed being “deeply devastated and saddened” by the news.
“George began his career at Stadium MK, rising through the youth ranks and making his senior debut here before reaching the Premier League later in his career. George, you’ll always be one of our own.”
The Football Association in England posted on X: “We are devastated to hear of George Baldock’s passing at the age of 31. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and teammates at both club and international levels.”
Baldock, affectionately nicknamed “Furious George” by Sheffield United fans for his tenacious playing style, once said in a local interview: “I love winning. I hate losing, and I even hate drawing.”
