Millwall goalkeeper Matija Sarkic has died elderly 26, the membership have introduced.
A observation at the membership’s reliable web site stated: “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 reassurances to Matija’s society and pals at this immensely unhappy year.
“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 stated in a observation 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 observation added.
Sarkic produced a man-of-the-match show for Montenegro in opposition to Belgium simply over a month 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 once but to develop into a part of a larger and extra gorgeous tale.
“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 ahead of becoming a member of Aston Villa in 2015.
He performed 60 video games all through mortgage spells at Shrewsbury, Birmingham and Stoke ahead of becoming a member of Millwall endmost August, the place he made 33 appearances.
Sarkic made his Montenegro debut in opposition to Belarus in 2019 and was once on world accountability endmost month 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, all through which year he made his complete world debut for Montenegro, ahead of 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 all through the 2021-22 season, stated 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 together with his society, pals and all those who knew him.”
The Football Association added: “We’re deeply saddened to be informed of the passing of Millwall goalkeeper Matija Sarkic.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends, as well as everybody at the club and the Montenegro national team at this very sad time.”
Millwall Supporters’ Membership posted on X: “What horrendous news to wake up to this morning that our goalkeeper Matija Sarkic has died at the young age of 26. Devastating news for his friends and family and for all of us associated with Millwall. Once a lion, always a lion.”
Stoke, the Skilled Footballers’ Affiliation and the English Soccer League additionally introduced their reassurances to Sarkic’s society and pals.