How did Matija Sarkic die? Millwall and Montenegro goalkeeper dead aged 26

Matija Sarkic has died at the age of 26, Millwall have announced. It has been reported that Sarkic fell ill at an apartment in the town of Budva in Montenegro on Saturday morning while abroad during the close season - with no further specifics given.

His "short illness" has led to an outpouring of grief. “Millwall Football Club is completely devastated to announce that Matija Sarkic has passed away at the age of 26,” the Championship club said in a statement. “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.” Sarkic joined Aston Villa in 2015 and enjoyed loan spells at Wigan Athletic, Stratford, Havant & Waterlooville and Livingston.

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He moved to Wolves in 2020. He played 60 games during loan spells at Shrewsbury, Birmingham and Stoke before joining Millwall last August. The Montenegro FA said in a statement 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 statement added. “Together with his twin brother Oliver, he passed all the junior categories of the Montenegrin national team.

"In the jersey of that iconic London club [Millwall], he left his mark, which was yet to become part of a bigger and more beautiful 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.”

The Football Association added: “We are deeply saddened to learn 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.”