In a tragic incident, former Wigan Athletic defender Steve Gohouri has been found dead in Germany, the authorities have confirmed. The police have said that the body of the footballer was found in the river Rhine in the western city of Krefeld, about 570 kilometres to the west of Berlin.
The 34-year-old was reported missing on the 12th of December and was last seen on the same day at a Christmas party of his German club TSV Steinbach. It is believed that Gohouri was scheduled to meet his family in Paris but never turned up.
However, the local police have ruled out any possibilities of foul play and any possible suspicions over the circumstances surrounding the death of the former Ivory Coast International.
Former club Wigan Athletic who are now in the second tier of English football tweeted: "We are saddened to hear reports of our former defender Steve Gohouri passing away. Our thoughts are with his family."
Tributes have been flowing in for the defender from former teammates of his from Wigan Atletic. James Mcarthur who currently plays for Premier League side Crystal Palace and Callum Mcmanaman led the way with their support and condolences for the loved ones of their deceased ex-teammate.
Gohouri was in the same youth team as Patrice Evra
Gohouri moved from his native Ivory Coast to France when he was just five years old. He was raised in the suburbs in the French capital and joined the same youth football team along with former Manchester United full-back Patrice Evra. He then joined Paris Saint-Germain where he failed to break into the first team before moving to Israeli side Bnei Yehuda.
After short spells in Israel, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Greece and Germany, Gohouri was signed by Wigan Atletic in 2010 from Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach. He stayed with the Latics for two years making 42 appearances scoring two goals. And in 2012, he returned to Israel to join Maccabi Tel Aviv. He joined TSV Steinbach in 2015.
