Alex Manninger made his debut for Austria in 1999.
Former Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Manninger has died at the age of 48 after his car was struck by a train.
Police reports indicate the incident occurred at approximately 08:20 local time (07:20 BST) at a level crossing near Salzburg.
Manninger played 64 matches for Arsenal between 1997 and 2002, during which time he secured both a Premier League title and an FA Cup victory.
He earned 33 caps for Austria and represented his nation at Euro 2008, which was hosted in Austria.
Austrian Football Association sporting director Peter Schottel remarked, “Alexander Manninger was an exemplary ambassador for Austrian football, both on and off the field.”
Schottel added, “His professionalism, composure, and reliability made him an indispensable asset to his teams and the national squad.”
“His accomplishments merit the highest respect and will be eternally remembered.”
Salzburg police stated that emergency responders employed a defibrillator on Manninger, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, after extracting him from the wreckage, which had been dragged by the train. However, their efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.
Authorities also confirmed that the train operator was unharmed.
Manninger commenced his professional career with his hometown club, Red Bull Salzburg, and subsequently played for 14 teams across Europe, including Sienna, Juventus, Udinese, and Augsburg.
In 2016, at the age of 39, he signed a short-term contract with Liverpool, though he did not make any appearances for the club.
During his tenure at Arsenal, Manninger primarily served as the backup to David Seaman, but he stepped in for the injured English goalkeeper towards the end of the 1997-98 season.
That season, Manninger was instrumental in Arsenal’s FA Cup sixth-round penalty shootout victory over West Ham and delivered a notable performance in a memorable win against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Manninger was recognized as the Premier League Player of the Month for March 1998.
Alex Manninger’s career saw him play for clubs in Austria, Italy, England, Spain and Germany.
Arsenal awarded Manninger a league winner’s medal following the 1997-98 season despite him not having played the required number of games ordinarily required.
“Everyone at Arsenal is shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic passing of former goalkeeper, Alex Manninger,” Arsenal posted on X.
“All our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this incredibly sad time.”
Red Bull Salzburg conveyed their “mourning” for their former goalkeeper, while Liverpool expressed they were “deeply saddened” by the news.
Manninger made 42 appearances for Juventus, filling in for injured first-choice stopper Gianluigi Buffon.
“Today is a terribly sad day,” Juventus posted on X.
“He has left us not only as a great athlete, but as a man of rare values: humility, dedication, and an extraordinary professional seriousness.
“Juventus expresses its condolences for the passing of Alex Manninger and stands with the family in this moment of grief.”
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