Millwall manager Neil Harris has paid tribute to Matija Sarkic following the goalkeeper’s tragic death over the weekend.
The Montenegro Football Association said Sarkic died suddenly on Saturday morning, with local media reporting he collapsed at his apartment in Budva.
Millwall said they were “completely devastated” at the loss of Sarkic, who made 33 appearances for the Lions last year and last played for Montenegro in a 2-0 friendly defeat by Belgium on June 5.
Harris has now paid tribute to the 26-year-old, hailing his relentless work ethic and the “radiant smile” he brought to Millwall’s training ground every day.
“First thoughts have to go with Mati’s parents and his brothers,” said Harris. “They had a wonderful son and wonderful brother that was a really caring, good man.
“You can never imagine the devastation in the moment that you find out that such a good man, at such a tender age, has lost his life. Words find it hard to explain how you feel.
“It all makes it very emotional for me to have a 22-year-old son myself. Mati is only a few years older, so any human being, any Millwall fan, any fan, anybody in life, can relate to something like that.
“There is no surprise that when you read obituaries on social media and people so close to him talk so fondly of him. They talk about his radiant smile and his human nature, and his goodwill. What a bloke.
“I only worked with Mati for a three-month period, I was with him last Thursday at the training ground, and just a huge smile on his face, so excited about going to see the family in Montenegro that evening.
“Even then [he] was just radiant, he’d had a great summer, performed so well for his nation against Belgium and been to his brother’s wedding - so proud.
“As a character at the training ground, every day he came in - win, lose or draw - with a smile on his face, and just wanted to be better.
“That was his thought process, his philosophy, it was: right, play well or don’t play well, how can he be better? How can he be the best version of himself?”
Millwall have set up a book of condolence for Sarkic, which is now open online on the club’s website.
A tribute area is also open at The Den, with fans able to lay flowers and other memorabilia, and Harris says talks are underway over future plans to honour the goalkeeper.
“Fans always use the phrase - once a Lion, always a Lion,” he said. “And I think that speaks volumes for us as a football club. Mati was extremely proud to represent us. It’s an opportunity to just pay a moment of respect.
“Supporters appreciate what people do for their football club and in the coming weeks and months there will be various tributes.
“We have already started talking behind the scenes about how we can pay our respects and honour Mati’s life, but also his time at our football club.”
