The Greek football community was left in mourning on Thursday following the sudden death of Panathinaikos and Greece international defender George Baldock.
The 31-year-old English-born right-back was found dead in a swimming pool at his home in the southern Athens suburb of Glyfada.
“We can confirm that George has sadly passed away. As a family, we are in shock at this terrible loss,” his family said in a statement.
News of Baldock’s death dominated social media, with the top-flight Super League and clubs sending condolences. Even fans from rival clubs expressed grief at the loss of a genuinely well-liked player. State TV ERT reported that Baldock was found at the bottom of the pool, with a bottle of vodka at the scene.
A first examination did not reveal signs of foul play, and the home showed no evidence of forced entry. Baldock’s wife, who is abroad, alerted the owner of the residence after unsuccessfully trying to reach the player on the phone.
Baldock joined Panathinaikos in May after a seven-year spell with Sheffield United in the Premier League.
He was called up by the Greek national team in 2022 and had 12 caps. The Greek federation described Baldock as “one of our own” and requested that Greece’s players wear black armbands for their Nations League match against England.
Manchester United’s Harry Maguire posted “RIP” and a heartbreak emoji alongside an image of Baldock on Instagram. Sheffield United changed their homepage to a black and white photo of their former player with the words: “RIP George Baldock.” Northampton, MK Dons, and the Football Association in England also paid tribute to Baldock.
Baldock was nicknamed “Furious George” by Sheffield United fans for his uncompromising style. “I just love winning. I hate losing and I even hate drawing,” he told local media. His sudden passing has left the football world in shock and mourning.
