Panathinaikos and Greece international defender George Baldock was discovered dead in his swimming pool on Wednesday, according to Greek media reports. The 31-year-old English-born right-back died at home in Glyfada, a southern Athens suburb, according to state news agency ANA. Greece’s Super League and several clubs have conveyed their sympathy. According to state TV ERT, the player was “at the bottom of the pool” and a bottle of wine was discovered at the site. According to ANA, Baldock’s wife, who is now abroad, notified the owner of the home after unsuccessfully attempting to reach the footballer by phone. Police cars and an ambulance were parked outside the building, and a coroner was summoned to inspect the body, according to ERT.
Baldock joined Panathinaikos in May following seven years with Sheffield United, who was demoted from the English Premier League to the Championship last season. He is of Greek descent through his father and was selected for the Greek national team in 2022. He got 12 caps but was not selected for the team’s Nations League encounter against England on Thursday at Wembley Stadium due to injury, according to ERT. On Sunday, Baldock played 75 minutes for Panathinaikos in a 0-0 draw with Olympiacos in the Greek Super League.
‘One of ours’
In respect to the athlete, both the Greece team’s official website and his club’s social media sites on X, formerly Twitter, and Facebook were blacked out. Manchester United’s England international defender Harry Maguire, a former Sheffield United player, shared an image of Baldock on Instagram with the words “RIP” and a heartbreak emoji.
Sheffield United’s main page now features a black-and-white portrait of their former player with the words: “RIP George Baldock.”
Northampton, where Baldock spent a loan spell in 2011, released a statement on X: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragically young age of former loanee George Baldock.”Before moving on to Oxford United and Sheffield United, George appeared in five games in 2011. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to George’s family and friends.
Baldock’s boyhood club, MK Dons, said they were “deeply devastated and saddened to learn about the shocking news”. “George began his career with Stadium MK, where he progressed through the youth ranks and made his senior debut before rising to the Premier League in subsequent years.
The Football Association of England commented on X: “We are devastated to read about George Baldock’s demise at the age of 31. Our thoughts and condolences go out to George’s family, friends, and club and country teammates. Sheffield United fans called Baldock “Furious George” for his demanding approach.