Former Sheffield United star George Baldock has been discovered lifeless in a swimming pool at his residence in Greece.
The defender, 31, was found after his spouse again in England had been unable to pay money for him for a number of hours, native newspapers report.
Fellow Premier League gamers together with Harry Maguire have led tributes to the tragic footballer – with the previous Manchester United captain merely posting ‘RIP’, alongside a damaged coronary heart emoji.
Baldock joined Panathinaikos in the summertime after spending seven celebrated seasons with the Blades within the Premier League and Championship – the place he was dubbed ‘Livid George’.
Regardless of being born in Buckinghamshire, he performed for Greece 12 occasions. He began his profession at MK Dons and taking part in in all of England’s high 5 divisions.
He missed out on Greece’s most up-to-date squad, which is because of play England within the Nations League at Wembley later this week after struggling an harm which dominated him out of video games in September.
Baldock’s spouse reportedly tried to contact him for a number of hours with out a response, earlier than she received in contact with the proprietor of his villa in Glyfada, a suburb south of Athens.
Sheffield United’s George Baldock waves farewell to the followers forward of the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Tottenham Hotspur at Bramall Lane
Police safe the realm exterior the home of British-born Panathinaikos and Greece defender George Baldock, the place he was discovered lifeless, within the suburb of Glyfada, Athens
Former Sheffield United defender George Baldock has reportedly died aged 31 in Greece
The footballer moved to Greek membership Panathinaikos in the summertime and was discovered lifeless in his swimming pool on Wednesday evening
Baldock was a mainstay of English soccer earlier than leaving and in addition performed 12 occasions for Greece
After looking out the suburban property, they discovered Baldock within the communal pool and referred to as the emergency companies.
He was reportedly within the water for a number of hours earlier than he was discovered, in line with pictures seen by the response unit.
A heartbroken Sheffield United paid tribute to their former participant as they introduced the information to their followers.
‘Sheffield United Soccer Membership is shocked and intensely saddened to be taught of the passing of former participant, George Baldock,’ they posted on X.
‘The defender left the membership in the summertime after seven years at Bramall Lane and was extraordinarily well-liked with supporters, employees and team-mates who pulled on a crimson and white shirt alongside him.
‘The honest condolences of everybody related to Sheffield United are prolonged to George’s household and mates.’
Northampton City, the place he performed 5 video games on mortgage, wrote on X: ‘We’re deeply saddened to be taught of the passing of former loanee George Baldock on the tragically younger age of 31.
A heartbroken Sheffield United paid tribute to their former participant as they introduced the information to their followers
Northampton City, the place he performed 5 video games on mortgage, wrote on X: ‘We’re deeply saddened to be taught of the passing of former loanee George Baldock on the tragically younger age of 31
And his boyhood membership, MK Dons, mentioned they had been ‘devastated’ to listen to the information, in an emotional submit as they mentioned he ‘will at all times be one in every of our personal’
Additionally responding to the information, England soccer’s official account mentioned they had been ‘extraordinarily saddened’
England defender Harry Maguire was among the many first to react, writing ‘RIP’ on Instagram
Police safe the realm exterior the home of British-born Panathinaikos and Greece defender George Baldock, the place he was discovered lifeless, within the suburb of Glyfada, Athens
‘Sending our sincerest condolences to George’s household and mates.’
Panathinaikos seems to have blacked out their emblem on their social media in a delicate tribute.
And his boyhood membership, MK Dons, mentioned they had been ‘devastated’ to listen to the information, in an emotional submit as they mentioned he ‘will at all times be one in every of our personal’.
They mentioned: ‘We’re deeply devastated and saddened to be taught in regards to the surprising information of former Academy graduate and MK Dons participant, George Baldock.
‘George began his profession at Stadium MK, the place he labored his method by way of the youth ranks and made his senior profession debut on the Membership earlier than reaching the heights of the Premier League in later years.
‘Everybody affiliated with MK Dons shares an incredible love for George, Sam and the Baldock household, and we want to share our sincerest condolences throughout these terrible occasions.
‘You’ll at all times be one in every of our personal, George.’
Additionally responding to the information, England soccer’s official account mentioned they had been ‘extraordinarily saddened’.
They continued: ‘We’re extraordinarily saddened by the passing of George Baldock.
Baldock, 31, was beginning a brand new life in Greece with earlier than he handed away
The defender acquired the nickname ‘Livid George’ as a result of his aggressive fashion
After his spouse was unable to contact him, the proprietor of the villa searched the property and located him within the pool
Baldock performed within the Premier League and Championship with Sheffield United for seven years
‘George was near lots of our gamers, and represented Greece – our opponents on Thursday evening. We’re pondering of George’s household, mates and team-mates at membership and nation at this tough time.’
The English Soccer League added that he made a ‘lasting influence’, along with his time at Sheffield United, Oxford United, Northampton City and MK Dons.
The Greece Tremendous League additional shared their ‘deepest condolences’ following the information.
They mentioned: ‘Your entire Tremendous League soccer household expresses its deep sorrow for the premature lack of Panathinaikos and our Nationwide Workforce footballer, George Baldock, and extends its deepest condolences to his household and family members.’
Baldock was lengthy a mainstay of English soccer, amassing 219 appearances at Sheffield United alone.
He twice gained promotion to the Premier League with the Yorkshire outfit.
At Bramall Lane he earned the nickname ‘Livid George’ as a result of his combative, aggressive fashion on the pitch.
‘Since I got here to this membership, I shortly realised that the harder the opposition, the extra you needed to discover a option to get an edge over your opponent,’ he as soon as advised the Sheffield Star.
‘To be sincere, I actually get pleasure from it. Plus, I simply love successful. I hate shedding and I even hate drawing.
Even after we’re taking part in pool within the rec space at coaching, that aggressive streak comes out.
‘The one hassle is, in the case of potting balls as a substitute of kicking them, I’m not notably good at it.’
Baldock had solely made 4 appearances for Panathinaikos, together with one within the Europa League – a brand new journey for a participant whose experiences had largely been confined to home soccer.
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