Star tragedy
George Baldock dead aged 31: Shock as former Premier League star found dead in pool five months after leaving England
Tributes have poured in following tragic news
FORMER Premier League star George Baldock has tragically been found dead in his swimming pool at the age of 31.
The former Sheffield United defender was discovered at his home in Greece, where he played for Panathinaikos.
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Greek media report his wife, who lives in England, was trying to track him down but she couldn't find him and started to worry.
She then informed the owner of the house in Glyfada, Athens, to check the property, where he was reportedly found dead in the swimming pool.
Police are now investigating and were pictured outside his home later in the evening.
Born in Buckinghamshire, Baldock had Greek roots through his gran and played for the country 12 times.
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He graduated from MK Dons' youth set-up while he also played for Oxford United, Tamworth and Northampton Town before making his name with Sheffield United.
He starred for the Blades between 2017 and 2024, making more than 219 appearances and earning the nickname Furious George due to his aggressive all-action style.
He once told the : "Since I came to this club, I quickly realised that the tougher the opposition, the more you had to find a way to get an edge over your opponent.
"I just love winning. I hate losing and I even hate drawing."
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Manchester United star Harry Maguire - who graduated through the Blades' youth team before leaving in 2014 - paid tribute by posting a picture of Baldock on his Instagram page with a broken heart emoji.
Baldock joined Panathinaikos from the Yorkshire club this summer.
He had made four appearances for them this season, including three in the league.
His most recent appearance came against Olympiacos on October 6.
Baldock missed out on the latest Greece squad, which is due to play England in the Nations League at Wembley on Thursday night.
He had been ruled out of the September games against Finland and Ireland through injury.
Ex-Prem star George Baldock found dead in pool months after Greece move
The Greek national team are expected to wear black armbands for the match against the Three Lions.
His club greyed out its website and social media icons on Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, following the news.
They later released a statement which read: "We are shocked by the loss of our George.
"The family of Panathinaikos mourns his untimely death. We stand with the family and loved ones of George Baldock."
In a statement Sheffield United said: "Sheffield United Football Club is shocked and extremely saddened to learn of the passing of former player, George Baldock.
"The defender left the club in the summer after seven years at Bramall Lane and was extremely popular with supporters, staff and team-mates who pulled on a red and white shirt alongside him.
Dominating Mbappe, Premier League Iron Man, promotion hero: A tribute to George Baldock
By Kostas Lianos, Digital Sports Reporter
IT was back in 2019 when Greece legend Vasilis Torosidis - the heir to Euro 2004 hero Giourkas Seitaridis - retired from international duty after 101 caps.
A giant void was left behind at right-back, many talented players tried to step up - and none of them could fill those big boots.
But, soon enough, I started to hear whispers about a Premier League ace with Greek heritage who's a starter week-in and week-out…
That was none other than George Baldock, born in Buckingham on March 9, 1993, to English parents but qualified for Greece through his grandmother.
And what a season he was having. The right-back starred for Sheffield United as they surprised the Prem in the 2019-20 campaign - their first in 12 years - by finishing in the top half of the table.
Baldock was among their standout players as he registered a staggering 3,420 minutes played - the joint highest along with the likes of Declan Rice and Virgil van Dijk.
The defender was keen to make the big step to the international stage with his grandmother's homeland - and it didn't take long until he shook hands with the Greek football federation (EPO) chiefs.
However, a long and arduous paperwork slog stood in the way - with the then Sheffield United star claiming Covid-19 and Brexit slowed things down.
Greece finally got the right-back they were begging for for years as Baldock made his debut on June 2, 2022 in a Nations League clash at Northern Ireland as a late substitute.
It didn't take long until the English-born ace owned the right flank at the back and impressive performances followed.
Perhaps none compare to the Euro 2024 qualifier against France in June 2023 when Baldock did the unthinkable and kept Kylian Mbappe quiet for 104 MINUTES, despite being injured and playing through "unimaginable" pain.
I still remember speaking to then-Greece manager Gus Poyet about his player's stunning performance, and I will never forget the big smile the Chelsea legend had on his face.
Poyet reminded me of a proud father as he took me through the injury hell the full-back endured before squaring up against perhaps the world's best player for his country.
A beaming Poyet told me: "Against the Republic of Ireland [three days beforehand] – and now that it is finished I can say it - after 20 minutes he had a very bad twist in his ankle, very bad. He was very close to come out. I asked him, 'Can you hold until half-time?'
"At half-time his ankle was very, very swollen. He asked for a strapping and he asked me for five minutes. Give me five minutes and we'll let you know. And he had an unbelievable second half running up and down and being outstanding.
"You don’t imagine the ankle after the game. You don't imagine the ankle the day after, after the flight to France. Black and blue – swollen. And a day-and-a-half later you need to play against Mbappe.
"Ninety per cent of people will think, no chance. And I keep talking to him, individually. And he keeps saying to me, 'Coach I’m gonna be there no worries'.
"And he didn't play 20 minutes, he didn't play 60 minutes, he played 104 minutes because the referee gave 14 minutes of injury time against Mbappe."
It's easy to understand how loyal Baldock was to every team he ever played for during his 15-year career, just by looking at his stats.
The Greek ace started his career at MK Dons in 2009 where he amassed a staggering 125 appearances throughout an eight-year stint that also saw him playing on loan for Northampton Town, Tamworth, IBV and Oxford United.
The defender joined Sheffield United in 2017 and registered a whopping 219 appearances in seven years that also saw him helping his team achieve two Premier League promotions.
Baldock's work ethic and commitment was no different in Greece as he proudly stated two years ago: "To play for the national side is a great honour and a lot of pride involved for me and my family.
"Representing my country through my late grandmother, it's a very proud moment for me and my family. I love the country and I will fight for every success"
Baldock never played for England at any level, but he always competed like a lion and he proved it on Sunday in his last ever match when he started for Panathinaikos, whom he joined in the summer, against eternal rivals Olympiacos in perhaps the most intense derby in Europe.
He served his team with honour as he helped them pick up a valuable point in a goalless draw against their in-form foes, who had just played their best game of the season with a 3-0 win over Braga in the Europa League a few days earlier.
He only managed 12 caps for Greece before his sudden and tragic death at the age of 31 on Wednesday in Athens.
But his fighting spirit and charisma at right-back with the white and blue, as well as his remarkable run in the Premier League and the Championship, show that he is leaving a legacy behind for many Greek and English fans to look up to.
"The sincere condolences of everyone associated with Sheffield United are extended to George's family and friends."
Prince Abdullah, the United owner, posted: “Devastating news, Speechless ... My condolences to his family and to all of us who loved him.”
His former club Northampton released a statement paying tribute to Baldock.
It read: "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former loanee George Baldock at the tragically young age of 31.
";George made 5 appearances in 2011 before playing for Oxford United and Sheffield United.
George Baldock career stats
George Baldock has tragically died aged 31
2009-2017 - MK Dons 125 games (2 goals)
2011 - Tamworth (loan) 3 (0)
2012 - IBV (loan) 18 (1)
2012 - Tamworth (loan) 15 (1)
2015-16 - Oxford United (loan) 47 (3)
2017-2024 - Sheffield United 219 (6)
2024 - Panathinaikos 4 (0)
"Sending our sincerest condolences to George’s family and friends."
The Greece Super League said in a statement: "The entire Super League football family expresses its deep sorrow for the untimely loss of Panathinaikos and our National Team footballer, George Baldock, and extends its deepest condolences to his family and loved ones."
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A statement from the England team said: "We're extremely saddened by the passing of George Baldock.
"George was close to many of our players, and represented Greece – our opponents on Thursday night.
"We're thinking of George's family, friends and team-mates at club and country at this difficult time."
His older brother Sam played for Brighton, Reading and Derby, with the clubs paying tribute to George's passing on social media.
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