- Former Arsenal and Austria international goalkeeper Alex Manninger has sadly passed away at the age of 48
- Manninger was involved in an accident near Salzburg, which resulted in his death, and the police launched an investigation
- Manninger, remembered for his extraordinary career and contributions to football, was mourned by former teammates and fans
Former international goalkeeper of the club Arsenal and Austrian national football team Alex Manninger has died at the age of 48.
Source: Facebook
Manninger, born in Salzburg in 1977, enjoyed a 20-year playing career.
He joined Arsenal in 1997 as David Seaman’s assistant and played a key role in the club’s Premier League and FA Cup double-winning season in 1998, making 64 appearances for the Gunners over five years.
He later played for Juventus, where he won Serie A titles, as well as spells at Siena, Udinese, and briefly Liverpool in 2016-17 before retiring.
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Sky Sports reports that the retired footballer died after his car was hit by a train at a level crossing near Salzburg on Thursday, April 16.
The sad incident happened during the morning hours.
How did Alex Manninger die?
According to initial police reports, Manninger’s car was hit by a Salzburger Lokalbahn train while he was crossing the tracks and dragged for some distance.
He was the only person in the car.
The train driver and about 25 passengers on board were not injured.
Emergency services rushed to the scene but were unable to revive the former goalkeeper. The Austrian authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the accident, with initial reports indicating that it happened at an unrestricted railway crossing.
The Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) and several of his former clubs, including Red Bull Salzburg and Arsenal, have paid their respects.
Arsenal posted:
“Everyone at Arsenal is shocked and saddened by the death of former goalkeeper, Alex Manninger.”
Manninger made 33 appearances for Austria between 1999 and 2009 and was widely respected for his professionalism and shot-stopping ability.
After retirement, he continued to be involved in football, working as a goalkeeper coach and scout.
Condolences have poured in from around the world, with former teammates and fans expressing grief at the sudden loss.
Seaman, a former Arsenal team-mate, described the news as “sad”.
No funeral arrangements have been announced yet.
How did Arsenal fans mourn Alex Manninger?
Fans mourned Manninger by writing:
Halldór Örn Kristjánsson:
“He has set a record for not scoring a goal in his first six PL matches for Arsenal, it is still a PL record to this day.”
Chidi Lambert Nwachukwu:
“Rest to Legend.”
Onyekachi Moh:
“Rest, sir. God bless your soul.”
Sylvester Shamalambo:
“My condolences to the family.”
What challenges did Kelvin Kiarie face?
Source: Twitter
In other news, award-winning surfer Kelvin Kiarie opened up about his financial struggles while competing abroad.
Despite missing a government scholarship, Kiarie won a gold medal in freestyle and silver in classic slalom at the International Scouting Challenge in April in Benin.
He shared a video of himself climbing three and his family to the airport, showing his limited budget and lack of support, but his determination led him to succeed.
His story led to criticism of the government about neglecting local talents.
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