Former Arsenal star, Alexander Manninger has died at the age of 48 following a tragic accident in Austria.
Local police said the former Arsenal goalkeeper was killed when his car was struck by a train at an unguarded level crossing in Nussdorf am Haunsberg, near Salzburg.
Manninger enjoyed a successful career across Europe, most notably as part of Arsenal’s squad that won the Premier League and FA Cup double in the 1997–98 season. Despite making only a handful of league appearances, he played a crucial role during a key period, stepping in for David Seaman and helping the team maintain their title challenge with a series of clean sheets.
He went on to play for several major clubs, including Juventus, where he won a Serie A title, as well as Fiorentina, Torino, Bologna and Augsburg. He later had a short stint with Liverpool before retiring in 2017.
On the international stage, Manninger earned 33 caps for Austria and represented his country at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2008. Following his retirement from football, he returned to his roots as a trained carpenter and started a business renovating homes in Austria.
Tributes have poured in from across the football world, with former club Red Bull Salzburg saying: “We mourn our former goalkeeper Alexander Manninger, who tragically lost his life in a traffic accident. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
Fans and former teammates have also remembered him as a key figure in Arsenal’s historic double-winning side and a respected professional throughout his career.