17 June 2024 , 11:59
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Oliver Sarkic said "life won't be the same" after his twin brother and fellow footballer Matija died aged just 26.
Matija, a Montenengro international goalkeeper, died in the town of Budva after falling ill over the weekend. The Grimsby-born Millwall player had been on duty for his national team earlier in the month, playing the full 90 minutes in a friendly against Belgium.
Oliver, who has under-21 caps for Montenegro and plays his club football in the country, thanked those who have sent messages of support in the light of the tragedy. A number of Matija's former clubs have put out statements remembering the popular goalkeeper, while those across the footballing world have shared their memories.
"Thank you everyone for the love and support shown to Matija and our family," Oliver wrote. "Really shows the amazing person he was. I wish he was still here with us I but couldn’t be more proud to say he was my twin brother. Life won’t be the same without you. Rest in peace, we love you."
"So sorry for your loss," one fan wrote in response to Oliver's tribute. "Our thoughts and condolences go to you and your family at this difficult times. Once a Lion always a Lion. Rip Matija Sarkic."
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"You and your family will always be part of the Millwall family," wrote another. "Matija won’t be forgotten by us fans."
"I’m so sorry for your loss," was the response from a fan of Matija's former club Birmingham City. "He came across as such a great guy with a fantastic personality. I always kept an eye out for him even once leaving Blues."
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Former Blackpool player Oliver Sarkic has thanked fans for messages about his twin brother (Paul Greenwood - CameraSport via Getty Images)Matija spent the 2023-24 season at Millwall, and the London club put out a statement when the news of his death broke. "Millwall Football Club is completely devastated to announce that Matija Sarkic has passed away at the age of 26," it began.
"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."
Millwall manager Neil Harris has paid tribute to Matija Sarkic (Dylan Hepworth/MB Media/Getty Images)Lions boss Neil Harris spoke about the late goalkeeper on Monday. "First thoughts have to go with Matij's parents and his brothers," he began.
"They had a wonderful son and a wonderful brother who was a really caring, good man. Obviously getting the call at 7 o'clock in the morning first thing on the weekend, you know it's not going to be positive news. But you could 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 makes it very emotional to me because I have a 22-year-old son myself, Matij was only a few years older. Any human being, any Millwall fan or anybody in life can relate to something like that. [It's] devastating news for the family, for our football club."
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