Alex Manninger, the former Arsenal and Juventus goalkeeper, has died at the age of 48 following a traffic accident in Austria.
The incident occurred on Thursday morning near Nussdorf am Haunsberg, approximately 90 kilometres north of Salzburg, when his vehicle was struck by a train of the Salzburg Local Railway while crossing the tracks.
According to Salzburg State police, emergency responders arrived to find Manninger already freed from the vehicle by first responders and undergoing CPR. Despite resuscitation efforts, including the leverage of a defibrillator, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Manninger enjoyed a professional career spanning two decades, representing clubs across Europe. He spent five seasons with Arsenal between 1997 and 2002, winning the Premier League and FA Cup in 1998 as a backup goalkeeper. His time in Italy included a Serie A title with Juventus in 2012, and he also had loan spells at Fiorentina and Siena.
Internationally, Manninger earned 33 caps for the Austrian national team, including participation in UEFA Euro 2008. He also had brief associations with Liverpool and FC Augsburg before retiring in 2017.
The Austrian Football Association expressed its sorrow in a statement, describing Manninger as a “special person” whose loss is deeply felt within the football community.
Investigations into the circumstances of the accident remain ongoing, with authorities confirming that Manninger was alone in the vehicle at the time of the collision and that the train driver was unharmed.
As the football world mourns the passing of a respected professional, tributes continue to emerge from former teammates, clubs, and fans who remember his contributions to the sport.
For ongoing updates and official statements regarding this developing story, readers are encouraged to follow trusted sports news outlets and the official channels of the Austrian Football Association.
