Matija Sarkic: Goalkeeper’s memory lives on at Millwall after death

It’s the final day of the 2023-24 season in English football’s second tier and Millwall are looking to end their campaign on a high at Swansea City.

A typical end-of-season affair between two mid-table teams is drifting towards a goalless conclusion when the Welsh side win a penalty after Jake Cooper’s foul on Brazilian winger Ronald.

Up steps the usually reliable Matt Grimes but Matija Sarkic, Millwall’s 6ft 4in Montenegro goalkeeper, flings himself to his right to make a fine save to cap a solid debut season with the Lions after joining from Wolves for £1.2m.

Minutes later Casper de Norre pounces at the other end to earn a 1-0 victory and send Millwall fans into the summer in buoyant mood after a fifth straight win.

“Considering we had a turbulent earlier part of the season and three managers and one caretaker, it was a brilliant end to the campaign,” says Lions season ticket holder Phil Clarke.

Six weeks later that feeling of optimism was shattered when awful news reached The Den that Sarkic, a well-mannered and highly respected team-mate, had died suddenly at the age of 26 while holidaying in Montenegro.

“It was devastating,” Andy Marshall, Millwall’s goalkeeping coach, tells BBC Sport.

Marshall had forged a close relationship with Sarkic, stretching across nine years and three different clubs.

“He was like a son to me. It ripped the club apart.”

Millwall, who face London rivals Crystal Palace in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday (12:15 GMT, live on BBC One), are still coming to terms with the loss of the popular keeper who everyone called ‘Mati’.

“I remember seeing the news come through on social media,” says Clarke. “My son and I were in total shock.”