Tragedy has struck the football world with the news of Alex Manninger's untimely death in a road accident, as announced by his first club, Red Bull Salzburg. The former Arsenal goalkeeper played a pivotal role in the team's 1997/98 double triumph, filling in for David Seaman and making seven Premier League appearances, including a remarkable penalty save in the FA Cup semi-final shootout against West Ham. Manninger accumulated 64 appearances for the Gunners between 1997 and 2002 before going on to have stints in Serie A with clubs like Fiorentina, Siena, and Juventus, as well as the Austrian Bundesliga with Red Bull Salzburg and the German Bundesliga with Augsburg. Although he concluded his career at Liverpool, he did not make an appearance for the club.
Arsenal expressed their condolences in a statement, saying, "The entire Arsenal family is devastated by the tragic loss of our former goalkeeper, Alex Manninger. Our hearts go out to his loved ones during this incredibly difficult time." Manninger also earned 33 caps for Austria and was part of the national squad for the 2008 European Championships co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland. Red Bull Salzburg, where Manninger began his career, paid tribute to him on social media, stating, "We are mourning the loss of our former goalkeeper, Alexander Manninger, who sadly passed away in a traffic accident. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
May he rest in peace."