Former Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Manninger has tragically passed away following a road accident, as confirmed by his initial club, Red Bull Salzburg.
The Austrian Bundesliga team announced the news on Thursday via their official X account, stating, “We mourn our former goalkeeper Alexander Manninger, who tragically lost his life in a traffic accident. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. Rest in peace, Alexander.”
Reports from Austria indicate that Manninger’s vehicle collided with a train at a level crossing on the Salzburg local railway in Nussdorf am Haunsberg early Thursday morning.
Arsenal also expressed their condolences on X, remarking, “All our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this incredibly sad time. May he rest in peace.”
Manninger, who earned 33 caps for the Austrian national team, joined Arsenal in June 1997 for £500,000 from Grazer AK. During his five-year tenure under manager Arsène Wenger, he made 64 appearances and secured a Premier League title before moving on to Espanyol, where he faced competition from David Seaman and Richard Wright for a starting position.
His career also included stints with clubs such as Torino, Bologna, Siena, and Juventus in Italy, as well as Augsburg in Germany. He briefly joined Liverpool in July 2016 on a short-term deal but did not make any competitive appearances for the club.
The official Liverpool FC account shared their sadness over Manninger’s passing, stating, “Liverpool FC is deeply saddened by the passing of former goalkeeper Alex Manninger at the age of 48. The thoughts of everyone at LFC are with Alex’s family and friends at this difficult time.”
The Austrian Football Association expressed their sorrow, highlighting Manninger as an “outstanding” representative of Austrian football. Sporting director Peter Schottel remarked on the Osterreichischer Fussball-Bund website, “Alexander Manninger was an outstanding ambassador of Austrian football on and off the pitch. His international career set standards and inspired many young goalkeepers. His professionalism, calm demeanor, and reliability made him a key figure in his teams and the national squad. His accomplishments will always be respected and remembered. During this challenging time, our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
