Millwall and Montenegro keeper Matija Sarkic tragically passes away at the age of 26, it’s been confirmed on Saturday morning (15 June).
The Grimsby born shot-stopper is said to have become ill at an apartment in the town of Budva, Montenegro while on international duty.
His friends immediately called for an ambulance but he died around 6:30am local time.
Millwall Football Club is completely devastated to announce that Matija Sarkic has passed away at the age of 26.
— Millwall FC (@MillwallFC) June 15, 2024
Absolutely devastated😔😔😔 RIP Mati❤️
— Bartosz Bialkowski (@1BartMan1) June 15, 2024
Rest in peace, Matija ❤️
— England (@England) June 15, 2024
MILLWALL STATEMENT:
Millwall Football Club is completely devastated to announce that Matija Sarkic has passed away at the age of 26.
Sarkic, The Lions’ number one goalkeeper, made 33 appearances for the club since joining from Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 2023.
A Montenegro international, Matija proudly represented his country on numerous occasions.
Everyone at the club sends their love and condolences to Matija’s family and friends at this immensely sad time.
The club will make no further comment at this time and asks that the privacy of Matija’s family is respected.
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 thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and all those that knew him. pic.twitter.com/NW0uFAKxh1
— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) June 15, 2024
Everyone at Aston Villa is deeply saddened by news of the passing of our former goalkeeper Matija Šarkić.
Matija joined our Academy in 2015 and spent five years with the club, during which time he made his full international debut for Montenegro, before departing in the summer… pic.twitter.com/OIrCdyXXts
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) June 15, 2024
We are truly heartbroken by today’s tragic news.
Matija was someone who had time for anybody at the football club, no matter who they were.
He was smart, bright, warm and funny, and gave everything to his profession and the people around him.
A teammate, a colleague and a… pic.twitter.com/8qe2JF53YT
— Wolves (@Wolves) June 15, 2024
Matija Šarkić (1997-2024)
Stoke City Football Club is shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the Club’s former goalkeeper Matija Šarkić at the tragically young age of 26.
— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) June 15, 2024
Shrewsbury Town are devastated to learn the news our former goalkeeper Matija Sarkic has passed away at the age of just 26.
Matija was a hugely popular figure at the club. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this incredibly sad time. pic.twitter.com/Abc674AxxB
— Shrewsbury Town FC (@shrewsburytown) June 15, 2024
Sarkic took on Belgium just last week and had been named man of the match with an impressive nine saves in his side’s 2-0 defeat.
He spent time in Anderlecht academy as a youngster before signing for Aston Villa. His five-year spell saw him go out on loan with the likes of Wigan Athletic, Stratford Town, Havant & Waterlooville and Livingston.
Sarkic signed for Wolves on in July 2020 on a three-year contract, and loaned out to Shrewsbury Town, Birmingham City and Stoke City, before signing for Millwall in August 2023 and went on to make 32 appearances.
Millwall Supporters’ Club posted on Twitter: “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.”
Absolutely devastating news. The thoughts of everyone at Argyle are with the family and friends of Matija Sarkic, and everyone at Millwall Football Club.
Rest in peace, Matija. https://t.co/HjIxRMmr5L
— Plymouth Argyle FC (@Argyle) June 15, 2024
The thoughts of everyone at Bromley FC are with those associated with @MillwallFC and the friends and family of Matija ♥️ https://t.co/WdV1z0ks8J
— Bromley FC (@bromleyfc) June 15, 2024
The EFL and the entire football community is devastated to hear of Matija’s passing.
Thoughts are with his family, friends and everyone at @MillwallFC 💙 https://t.co/Wwy3IH4FK2
— EFL (@EFL) June 15, 2024
Everyone at Crystal Palace sends their deepest condolences to Matija’s family, friends and the club at this very sad time ❤️💙
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) June 15, 2024
The thoughts of everyone at Sheffield United are with Matija’s family, friends and everyone at Millwall at this incredibly sad time. ❤️
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) June 15, 2024
Sending our deepest condolences to Matija’s family and friends, and everyone at Millwall ❤️
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) June 15, 2024
We are saddened to learn of the passing of Matija Šarkić. Our condolences to everybody at Millwall as well as Matija’s family and friends.
— West Ham United (@WestHam) June 15, 2024
Sending all our thoughts to Matija’s family and friends, as well as everyone at Millwall during this sad time 🧡
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) June 15, 2024
Such sad news. Everyone at Fulham sends their condolences to Matija’s family and friends at this awful time.
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) June 15, 2024
HIS CAREER:
Youth career
–2015 – Anderlecht
2015–2017 – Aston Villa
Senior career
2017–2020 – Aston Villa
2017–2018 → Wigan Athletic (loan)
2018–2019 → Stratford Town (loan)
2019 → Havant & Waterlooville (loan)
2019–2020 → Livingston (loan)
2020–2023 – Wolverhampton Wanderers
2020–2021 → Shrewsbury Town (loan)
2021–2022 → Birmingham City (loan)
2023 → Stoke City (loan)
2023–2024 – Millwall
International career
2013 – Montenegro U17 – 3 games
2014–2016 – Montenegro U19 – 12 games
2015–2018 – Montenegro U21 – 6 games
2019–2024 – Montenegro – 8 games
This is how fans reacted on Twitter with the news that Millwall keeper Matija Sarkic tragically passes away at the age of 26…
@Beds72: Terrible news regarding Matija Šarkić. 26 is no age to go. RIP
@1875aim: Terrible news to wake up to. RIP Matija Sarkic, my thoughts are with his family at this sad time 💙
@C8JP8S: So sad to hear about footballer Matija Sarkic this morning, he was in the prime of his life too. Shocking! Thoughts go out to his family, friends and now former colleagues.
@CarlyBird06; Sad news! 26 is no age at all! Thoughts and prayers to the family. RIP Matija Sarkic 🌹 #millwall 💙
@theavfcfaithful: So sudden? 😞 Awful news. I knew the Sarkic family a bit, all great people. Thoughts with them at this moment. ❤️
@WHUFCGeezer: Awful news
@willburford11: Awful news! Rest in Peace
@Jayfirth14: What a keeper he was for us for a season! Rest in piece matty KRO in heaven 💙 #kro #bcfc
@sigarrett: rip from a Wolves fan started at our club 🐺
@michaelutley20: RIP how awful such a young age thoughts are with both country n club and the family and friends of this young lad 😔
@MillwallTT: RIP Lion 🦁. Sending all my family’s love to his family and the dressing room. This is just so tragic.
@watfordfocus: Terrible news. I’m so sorry to hear this. RIP.
@JP__267: RIP Matija. Always contributed a lot to the community when with us at Wolves. Will be sorely missed.
It’s Sarkic you know! 🎶 pic.twitter.com/xZ8JNIrTgE
— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) November 30, 2021
A @sarkicmatija appreciation tweet. 👏 pic.twitter.com/mQat7G2G4H
— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) September 26, 2021
@madd182: Awful news great keeper RIP💙💙💙
@SteHouseman: Rest in peace Matija, always a part of the Villa family
@copdock1988: Very sad
@jamiepiercy1986: Oh no what a great goalie he was such a shame… Rest in peace 🙏
@heyit5sam: Truly awful news. 26 is no age at all. Thoughts go out to his family
@paul_caffrey: Jesus Christ. God bless him. RIP
@MRMAXCB: Really tragic.
@Studav19: Such sad news. Met him when he was at Villa he was such a great lad. Thoughts with all his family and friends #RIP
@Matt__Jones___: Awful news. RIP
@FabVeronika: Shocking, thoughts are with his family and friends 💔
@MattGauder: Just horrible news. RIP Matija 💙⚽️
@ross770edwards: Ow wow! That’s awful news. RIP Matija 🔴⚪️
@evertonfc1122: That’s awful news 😞 x
@stevenffc123: So sad 😞 26 years of age. r.I.p
@HimleyWolf: Awful News, far too young, RIP
@malachi21328432: Wow awful news rip ❤️
@jakey_oung: This is such sad news 💔 RIP
@JSwxnz: rest in peace ❤️
@itsjaynm: Heartbreaking. Fantastic keeper.
@theAdamMeredith: Awful news RIP 🔵⚪️⚽️
@LewisKerfoot11: Absolutely gutting he was unreal the season we had him at Blues. RIP 🔵⚪️
@CallumTh0mas_: Wtf. Such sad news man, rest in peace sark 🙏
@wvBuckley: Horrible, RIP Sarkic 🐺❤️
@miffy0811_a: Oh my goodness. How awful. Sending hugs and condolences to all xx
@JackRutterrr: That’s actually mad. Liked him when he was down at Stoke on loan the other year. RIP, 26 is no age at all.
@Wolves689: Very sad news. Condolences to all his family!! RIP young man. 😢😢
@christinewwfc: Such sad news absolutely heartbreaking thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends RIP Matija
@dianebarrow: Oh my goodness this is so sad. Thoughts with his family and friends at this very sad time. Taken too soon RIP 💔🙏
Rip Matija Šarkić 26 years old no age at all. Thinking of his friends family and everyone at millwall 😞🤍🕊️ pic.twitter.com/grqUA05wUK
— Becca-Jane 🌺 (@BeccaJaneKx) June 15, 2024
R.I.P Matija Sarkic was only with us for a season but was a great player and got to speak to him at the player awards that season and he was a great guy, loved the fact we turned up with about 10 Montenegro flags behind his goal at cov away. always a blue 🔵#BCFC #MFC pic.twitter.com/We48PqnqKd
— Jack 🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@jackil3s) June 15, 2024
Matija Sarkic was a lovely guy who took the time to take photos with my kids a couple of years ago at Wolves.
Rest in peace Mati ❤️🕊️ pic.twitter.com/0BUYQYlUaF
— FROSTY ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@redfrosty7) June 15, 2024
Death keeps no calendar
Tragic tragic news
Thoughts with his family 💔When the moment goes, it doesn’t come back ❤️ look after them 🙏🏽#MatijaSarkic pic.twitter.com/EC2Cbu6h5v
— Manny Singh Kang (@pedalsingh) June 15, 2024
Rest in Peace Sarkic, Top goalkeeper and a top man with a really outgoing and friendly personality especially when I asked for this picture below at the start of pre season last year, always will be remembered as Millwalls NO1💙🦁
Forever will be missed💔 pic.twitter.com/rlIxsnQVl2
— AH🧤 (@AR_Howard_) June 15, 2024
Devastating news this morning
Prayers go out to Matija Sarkic’s family & everyone affected 🙏
We sat down with Matija during pre-season in Alicante 2022…myself & Liam both said afterwards what an absolute joy he was
Confident, infectious, humble
Rest in peace #wwfc pic.twitter.com/Nq9DZ1MiuI
— Nathan Judah (@NathanJudah) June 15, 2024
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