Former EPL player found dead in Germany

Fomrer Ivory Coast international Steve Gohouri, who played in the EPL for Wigan in 2010, has been found dead in Germany's Rhine River.

Former Ivory Coast international Steve Gohouri has been found dead in Germany's Rhine River. (AAP)

A body found in the Rhine river on New Year's Eve has been identified Saturday as that of former Ivory Coast footballer Steve Gohouri.

Duesseldorf police spokesman Marcel Fiebig said there were no indications that a third party was involved in Gohouri's death.

The body was found in the city of Krefeld, to the northwest of Duesseldorf. The 34-year-old Gohouri had been reported missing on December 12.

Gohouri, a defender who played for the Ivory Coast between 2006 and 2009, scored two goals in 42 games for Borussia Moenchengladbach between 2007 and 2009, helping the side to Bundesliga promotion in 2008. He also played for Wigan in 2010 when the Latics were in the Premier Leauge and Young Boys in Switzerland.

"This is terrible news," Moenchengladbach sporting director Max Eberl said. "I got to know Steve as a person full of the joys of life and that's how I'll remember him. Our thoughts and sympathies are now with his family."

Gohouri was playing this season for German fourth-tier side TSV Steinbach.

"All the officials, players, coaches and assistants of TSV Steinbach are deeply moved by the death of Steve Gohouri," the club said. "Our thoughts are with his relatives in these difficult hours."