Tributes are beginning to pour in for Grimsby-born goalkeeper Matija Šarkić following his unfortunate passing yesterday, June 15th.
Born in 1997 in Grimsby to Montenegrin parents, he played for numerous teams, including Aston Villa, the Wolverhampton Wanderers, and most recently, Millwall FC.
The Wolverhampton Wanderers have issued their tribute to Matija, saying that they are “deeply saddened by the passing of beloved former goalkeeper Matija Šarkić at the young age of 26”.
In a statement online, the team’s sporting director, Matt Hobbs, said, “The news has come as a massive shock to all of us. It’s unbelievably heartbreaking, and everyone at Wolves is devastated to hear of Mati’s passing.
“He was a wonderful goalkeeper, but as a person – first and foremost – he was loved by everyone. Mati was such a popular guy around the club and always had a smile on his face. He worked hard, and he was so personable, so polite and friendly to every member of staff at Compton.
“He was unbelievably humble and treated everyone how he would want to be treated himself. He was so friendly, would talk to anyone, and then when he did his work, he took it extremely seriously. He was the perfect pro.
“As a goalkeeper, he was doing exactly what we expected him to do. He moved on to Millwall last summer and was showing just how good he was again. We had no doubt that he would have ended up in the Premier League.
“But for everybody who knew him really well, it’s such sad news to hear and it’s hard to accept that he’s no longer with us.
“On behalf of the club, I’d like to offer our condolences to Mati’s wonderful family and his girlfriend, who all have our support at this difficult time.”
Šarkić’s team, Millwall FC, has also released a statement in relation to the late goalkeeper’s passing, stating that they are “completely devastated” by the announcement and how he “proudly represented his country on numerous occasions”.
The statement continues: “Everyone at the club sends their love and condolences to Matija’s family and friends at this immensely sad time.”
(Image: Matija Šarkić / X)
