Former Arsenal and Juventus goalkeeper Alexander Manninger dies aged 48
Former Arsenal and Juventus goalkeeper Alexander Manninger has died in a road traffic accident at the age of 48. The Austrian, who won the Premier League with Arsenal in 1998, was involved in a collision with a train at a level crossing near Salzburg on Thursday, according to reports from his native country. His former club, FC Red Bull Salzburg, confirmed the news with a statement mourning his loss and extending condolences to his family and friends.
Manninger, who began his professional career at Austria Salzburg in 1995, was best known for his time in England and Italy. He joined Arsenal in 1997 and served as understudy to legendary goalkeeper David Seaman. During his five years in North London, he made 64 appearances and was part of the squad that secured the Premier League and FA Cup double in the 1997-98 season, also winning the Community Shield twice.
His career was that of a journeyman, spanning five countries and fourteen clubs. After leaving Arsenal, he had spells in Spain, Italy, and Germany before a notable four-year period at Juventus from 2008 to 2012, where he made 42 appearances as deputy to Gianluigi Buffon. With Juventus, he added a Serie A title to his collection in the 2011-12 campaign. He earned 33 caps for the Austrian national team, often as a backup to Franz Wohlfahrt and later Jürgen Macho.
Manninger retired from playing in 2017 after a brief stint at Liverpool, where he did not make a competitive appearance. His death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the football world, remembering a respected and well-travelled professional. The circumstances of the accident are under investigation by local authorities. The football community is united in grief for a player whose career, though often spent as a reserve, touched some of Europe's biggest clubs and secured several major honours.
