Alex Manninger: Former Arsenal and Liverpool goalkeeper killed in car accident aged 48
Manninger won the Premier League and FA Cup double with Arsenal in 1998 and later returned to the Premier League with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool
Former Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Manninger has been killed in a car accident at the age of 48. According to reports in Austria, Manninger’s car was struck by a train at a level crossing outside Salzburg on 8:20am on Thursday morning. Salzburg Police confirmed Manninger was alone in the vehicle and that the passengers on the train and the train driver were unharmed.
Former Arsenal golakeeper Alex Manninger has been killed in a car crash in Austria at the age of 48 (Getty) Police said Manninger was freed from the vehicle by first responders but resuscitation efforts, including the use of a defibrillator, were unsuccessful. An investigation into the fatal collision has been launched. “Everyone at Arsenal is shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic passing of former goalkeeper, Alex Manninger,” Arsenal posted on X/Twitter.
“All our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this incredibly sad time. ” Manninger made 64 appearances for Arsenal between 1997 and 2002, often serving as back-up to No 1 goalkeeper David Seaman and Richard Wright. But he was part of the Arsenal team that won the Premier League and FA Cup double in 1998, starting in the crucial Premier League victory at Manchester United in the March of that season when Seaman was injured.
Aged 20, Manninger started in six consecutive games for Arsenal while Seaman was unavailable and did not concede a goal, while he also played in the FA Cup quarter-final victory at West Ham, making key saves in the shoot-out as the Gunners progressed on penalties. Although England international Seaman reclaimed his starting spot for the remainder of the season once he returned from injury, Manninger was awarded a Premier League winner’s medal for his contribution that campaign - even though he did not meet the number of required league appearances. Alex Manninger stepped up for Arsenal during a crucial run in the 1997-98 double-winning season (PA) Much later in his career, Manninger joined Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, spending a year at the Reds between 2016 and 2017.