Former Austrian goalkeeper Alex Manninger, who helped Arsenal win the Premier League and FA Cup, has tragically passed away in a car accident

(Vienna, April 17) Former Austrian international goalkeeper Alex Manninger, who played for top clubs including Arsenal FC, Juventus FC, and Liverpool FC, has tragically passed away at the age of 48 following a traffic accident.

The incident occurred in his hometown of Salzburg, where his car collided with a train at a crossing. According to police, the vehicle was dragged several meters. Despite rapid emergency response, he could not be saved. Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash. The train driver and passengers were unharmed.

Following the news, his former clubs paid tribute. Arsenal honored him with an infinity symbol, signifying eternal remembrance, while Liverpool and Juventus expressed deep sorrow, with Juventus highlighting his humility, passion, and professionalism.

Manninger made history as Arsenal’s first Austrian player and was part of the club’s 1997/98 Premier League and FA Cup double-winning squad. Though often behind first-choice goalkeeper David Seaman, he made 39 league appearances over five seasons before a loan spell at Fiorentina.

He later played for numerous clubs across Europe, including Espanyol, Udinese, Torino, Bologna, Siena, Augsburg, and Red Bull Salzburg.

During his time at Juventus, he won the Serie A title in the 2011/12 season. He stepped up reliably when first-choice goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was unavailable, making 42 appearances.

In the twilight of his career, Manninger joined Liverpool in the 2016/17 season. Although he did not feature in official matches, he was active in community outreach before retiring in 2017.

Internationally, he earned 33 caps for Austria between 1999 and 2009, including being part of the UEFA Euro 2008 squad.

Austrian FA sporting director Peter Schöttel praised him as a key figure in Austrian football, both on and off the pitch, whose professionalism and composure inspired a generation of goalkeepers.