At the peak of his career, Alex Manninger played for Arsenal, Liverpool and Juventus, and won 33 caps for Austria.
Published April 16, 2026
Former Austrian national team goalkeeper Alex Manninger, who played for Arsenal and a number of Italian clubs, has died at the age of 48 after his car was hit by a train at a railway crossing near Salzburg.
The Austrian Football Association (OEFB) and the club associated with the player, who retired as a professional in 2017, mourned his death on Thursday.
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Manninger made 33 appearances for Austria and played for Arsenal from 1997 to 2001, with the club winning the league title and the FA Cup in the 1997–1998 season. He finished his career with Liverpool in 2017.
In Italy, the Austrian player played for Fiorentina, Turin, Bologna, Siena, Udinese and Juventus.
“Alexander Manninger was an outstanding ambassador for Austrian football both on and off the pitch,” OEFB sporting director Peter Schettel said in a statement.
“With his international career, he has set standards and inspired and shaped many young goalkeepers. His professionalism, calmness and reliability made him an important role for the team and for the national team as well.”
Salzburg police said in a statement that the accident occurred at around 8:20 a.m. (6:20 p.m. Japan time). First responders were able to extricate the driver from the vehicle, but resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.
“According to the initial investigation, the car was struck and dragged by a Salzburger Localbahn vehicle while crossing a railway crossing. The driver was alone in the car. The driver was not injured,” police said in a statement.
Fiorentina announced they would observe a minute’s silence and wear black armbands during Thursday’s home game against Crystal Palace in the Conference League, while league leaders Arsenal expressed their shock on social media.
Other clubs, including Liverpool, also released statements of condolence.
“Today is a very sad day. We have not only lost a great athlete, but also a man with rare values: humility, dedication and exceptional professionalism,” Juventus said.
“Alex Manninger will be remembered for leading by example on and off the field.”
