Tragedy has struck as former Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Manninger has lost his life in a road accident, as confirmed by his first club, Red Bull Salzburg. Manninger played a crucial role in Arsenal's double-winning season of 1997/98, filling in for the injured David Seaman and making seven Premier League appearances, including a memorable penalty save in the FA Cup semi-final shootout against West Ham.
His tenure with the Gunners spanned from 1997 to 2002, during which he made 64 appearances. Manninger went on to have stints in Serie A with clubs like Fiorentina, Siena, and Juventus, the Austrian Bundesliga with Red Bull Salzburg, and the German Bundesliga with Augsburg, before concluding his career at Liverpool without making an appearance. Arsenal expressed their condolences, stating, "The entire Arsenal family is shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our former goalkeeper, Alex Manninger.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time." Manninger earned 33 caps for Austria and was part of the squad for the 2008 European Championship co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland. Red Bull Salzburg, where Manninger began his career, paid tribute to him on social media, saying, "We are mourning the loss of our former goalkeeper, Alexander Manninger, who tragically passed away in a traffic accident. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
Rest in peace, Alexander."