Millwall goalkeeper Matija Sarkic has died aged 26, the membership have introduced.
An announcement on the membership’s official web site mentioned: “Millwall Football Club is completely devastated to announce that Matija Sarkic has passed away at the age of 26.
“Sarkic, The Lions’ primary goalkeeper, made 33 appearances for the membership since becoming a member of from Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 2023.
“Montenegro international, Matija proudly represented his country on numerous occasions.
“Everybody on the membership sends their love and condolences to Matija’s household and mates at this immensely unhappy time.
“The club will make no further comment at this time and asks that the privacy of Matija’s family is respected.”
The Montenegro Soccer Affiliation mentioned in an announcement that Sarkic had “died suddenly” on Saturday morning.
“A beloved member of the ‘Brave Falcons’, an eternally smiling guy, played for our ‘A’ selection in nine games, in which he showed how much he means to this team,” the assertion added.
Sarkic produced a man-of-the-match show for Montenegro in opposition to Belgium simply over every week in the past
“Together with his twin brother Oliver, he passed all the junior categories of the Montenegrin national team.
“Within the jersey of that iconic London membership [Millwall], he left his mark, which was but to grow to be a part of an even bigger and extra lovely story.
“Premature death stopped that and caused great pain to the Sarkic family. The Football Association of Montenegro expresses its sincere condolences to the Sarkic family.”
Grimsby-born Sarkic started his profession in Anderlecht’s academy earlier than becoming a member of Aston Villa in 2015.
He performed 60 video games throughout mortgage spells at Shrewsbury, Birmingham and Stoke earlier than becoming a member of Millwall final August, the place he made 33 appearances.
Sarkic made his Montenegro debut in opposition to Belarus in 2019 and was on worldwide responsibility final week for a pleasant in opposition to Belgium.
His former membership Aston Villa additionally posted on X: “Everyone at Aston Villa is deeply saddened by news of the passing of our former goalkeeper Matija Sarkic.
“Matija joined our Academy in 2015 and spent 5 years with the membership, throughout which period he made his full worldwide debut for Montenegro, earlier than departing in the summertime of 2020.
“The thoughts and condolences of all at the club are with his family and friends at this incredibly sad time.”
Birmingham, the place Sarkic made 23 appearances on mortgage in the course of the 2021-22 season, mentioned on X: “Everyone at Birmingham City is shocked and saddened to learn of the news that our former goalkeeper, Matija Sarkic, has passed away at the age of 26.
“Our ideas and prayers are along with his household, mates and all those who knew him.”
The Soccer Affiliation added: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Millwall goalkeeper Matija Sarkic.
“Our ideas and condolences are along with his household and mates, in addition to everyone on the membership and the Montenegro nationwide group at this very unhappy time.”
Millwall Supporters’ Club posted on X: “What horrendous information to get up to this morning that our goalkeeper Matija Sarkic has died on the younger age of 26. Devastating information for his family and friends and for all of us related to Millwall. As soon as a lion, at all times a lion.”
Stoke, the Skilled Footballers’ Affiliation and the English Soccer League additionally provided their condolences to Sarkic’s household and mates.
