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 victory in the 1997/98 season, stepping in for the injured David Seaman to make seven Premier League appearances and saving a penalty in the FA Cup semi-final shootout against West Ham. The 48-year-old made a total of 64 appearances for the Gunners between 1997 and 2002 before moving on to play for several clubs, including Fiorentina, Siena, and Juventus in Serie A, Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga, and FA Augsburg in the German Bundesliga.
Although he concluded his career at Liverpool, he did not make any appearances for the club. Arsenal has expressed their shock and sadness at the news, stating, "The entire Arsenal community is devastated by the tragic passing of our former goalkeeper, Alex Manninger. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time." Manninger also earned 33 caps for the Austrian national team and was part of the squad that participated in 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, 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. May he rest in peace."