Alex Manninger, 48 years old, died after his car near Salzburg was struck by a train.
A Respected Career in European Football
Manninger started his professional career with Red Bull Salzburg. He played in several European clubs and gained a reputation for being a trustworthy goalkeeper.
He replaced the injured David Seaman in 1997-98. Manninger delivered key performances, including a strong showing against Manchester United at Old Trafford. In addition, he played an important role in the FA Cup victory over West Ham United.
In March 1998, his performances won him the Premier League’s Player of the month award. Arsenal awarded him the winner’s award for this season, even though he didn’t make his usual number of matches.
After Years of International Career
Manninger has 33 caps in the Austrian national team. He played at many clubs throughout his career. This included Juventus where he was often a substitute for Gianluigi Buffon. He played for Siena as well as Udinese and Augsburg.
He signed a contract with Liverpool in 2016, but he never played for the first team.
Tributes Pour In
The clubs and football associations have shown their deepest sorrow at his passing.
Arsenal expressed their shock and sadness at the death of its former goalkeeper. Red Bull Salzburg, Liverpool and other clubs also expressed their sorrow and sympathy for the family.Peter Schottel, the sporting director of Austrian Football Association (AFA), called Manninger a outstanding ambassador for Austrian Football.
