The football world is mourning the tragic death of Alex Manninger, who has died at the age of 48 following a traffic accident.
Manninger, best known for his time at Arsenal FC, played for the club between 1997 and 2002. During his time under manager Arsène Wenger, he was part of the historic 1997–98 squad that won both the Premier League and FA Cup.
The news of his passing was confirmed by his former club Red Bull Salzburg, who paid tribute to the goalkeeper and expressed condolences to his family and friends.
Internationally, Manninger earned 33 caps for Austria national football team and was part of the squad for UEFA Euro 2008, hosted by Austria and Switzerland.
Throughout his career, he played across Europe, representing clubs such as Juventus FC, FC Augsburg, and RCD Espanyol. He later finished his career with Liverpool FC, although he did not make a first-team appearance there.
At Arsenal, Manninger made 64 appearances, often serving as backup to David Seaman. He is remembered for key contributions, including a penalty save in an FA Cup quarter-final shootout against West Ham during his early time at the club.
Tributes have poured in, with officials from the Austrian Football Association describing him as an “outstanding ambassador” for Austrian football, praising his professionalism, composure, and influence on future generations of goalkeepers.
His legacy spans multiple leagues and countries, and he will be remembered as a respected and dependable figure in European football.
May Alex Manninger rest in peace.
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