Former Arsenal and Austria goalkeeper Alex Manninger has died at age 48 following a collision between his car and a train at a level crossing near Salzburg.
Police confirmed the incident occurred around 8:20 AM local time on Tuesday. Emergency responders used a defibrillator on Manninger after freeing him from his vehicle, which had been dragged by the train, but were unable to revive him. The train driver emerged unharmed from the accident.
"Alexander Manninger was an outstanding ambassador for Austrian football, both on and off the pitch," said Austrian Football Association sporting director Peter Schottel. "His professionalism, composure and reliability made him an integral part of his teams. His achievements deserve the utmost respect and will be unforgettable."
Manninger made 64 appearances for Arsenal between 1997 and 2002, winning both the Premier League and FA Cup during his tenure. Though often serving as backup to legendary goalkeeper David Seaman, Manninger stepped up during the 1997-98 season when Seaman was injured, delivering crucial performances including a penalty shootout victory against West Ham in the FA Cup and a memorable win at Manchester United's Old Trafford. His March 1998 performances earned him Premier League Player of the Month honors.
The Austrian international earned 33 caps for his national team and was part of the squad that competed in Euro 2008, hosted by Austria and Switzerland. His club career spanned 14 teams across Europe, beginning with hometown club Red Bull Salzburg and including stints at Sienna, Juventus, Udinese, and Augsburg. He signed a short-term deal with Liverpool in 2016 at age 39 but never made an appearance for the club.
Tributes poured in from across the football world following the tragic news. Arsenal expressed being "shocked and deeply saddened" by the passing of their former player, while Juventus, where Manninger made 42 appearances filling in for injured goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, remembered him as "a man of rare values: humility, dedication, and extraordinary professional seriousness."
Red Bull Salzburg and Liverpool also issued statements mourning the loss of the respected goalkeeper, whose career exemplified dedication across multiple European leagues.