Tragedy has struck the football world as former Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Manninger has lost his life in a road accident, as announced 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 notable penalty save in the FA Cup semi-final shootout against West Ham.
During his time with the Gunners from 1997 to 2002, he made a total of 64 appearances 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 ended his career at Liverpool, he did not make any appearances for the club. Arsenal expressed their shock and sadness at the news, stating, "The entire Arsenal community is devastated by the tragic loss of our former goalkeeper, Alex Manninger. Our deepest condolences go out to his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time." Manninger also had a notable international career, earning 33 caps for Austria and being part of the 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, 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."