Greek football was in mourning on Thursday following the tragic death of George Baldock, a former Panathinaikos and Greece international. Tributes poured in, even from fans of rival clubs who typically hold animosity towards Panathinaikos.
The 31-year-old right-back, a former Sheffield United player in the Premier League, was found dead in his swimming pool at his home in Glyfada, a suburb of southern Athens, on Wednesday evening.
His family released a statement saying, “We can confirm that George has sadly passed away. As a family, we are in shock at this terrible loss.”
The news of Baldock’s death quickly spread on social media, with the Super League and various clubs offering condolences before Panathinaikos issued their own statement. Fans from rival teams expressed their sorrow for a player who was genuinely well-liked across the league.
State broadcaster ERT reported that Baldock was discovered “at the bottom of the pool,” with a bottle of vodka found nearby. According to ANA, Baldock’s wife, who was abroad, alerted the property owner after being unable to reach him by phone.
As police and emergency services arrived, several Panathinaikos players gathered outside, and a coroner was called. Initial examinations reportedly found no signs of foul play, with ERT noting that Baldock had been dead for approximately five hours and there was no evidence of forced entry.
Baldock joined Panathinaikos in May after a seven-year stint with Sheffield United, who were relegated from the Premier League to the Championship last season. Of Greek descent through his father, he received a call-up to the Greek national team in 2022, earning 12 caps. He was not selected for the team’s Nations League match against England due to injury, ERT reported.
The Greek football federation referred to Baldock as “one of our own” and requested that players wear black armbands during the upcoming match. He had recently played 75 minutes in a 0-0 draw against Olympiacos in the Greek Super League.
Both the Greek national team’s official website and Panathinaikos’ social media accounts paid tribute by turning their profiles black. Harry Maguire, an England international and former Sheffield United player, shared his condolences on Instagram, posting “RIP” alongside a photo of Baldock.
Sheffield United honored their former player by changing their homepage to a black-and-white image of Baldock with the message “RIP George Baldock.” The club expressed their sadness, stating, “Sheffield United Football Club is shocked and extremely saddened to learn of the passing of former player, George Baldock.”
Northampton, where Baldock had a loan spell in 2011, expressed their sorrow, stating, “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former loanee George Baldock at the tragically young age of 31.” His boyhood club, MK Dons, said they were “deeply devastated and saddened” by the news, emphasizing his journey from their youth ranks to the Premier League.
The Football Association in England shared their condolences on social media, saying, “We are devastated to learn of the passing of George Baldock at the age of 31. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with George’s family, friends, and teammates.”
Baldock, affectionately known as “Furious George” by Sheffield United fans for his tenacious playing style, once stated, “I just love winning. I hate losing, and I even hate drawing.”
