Alex Manninger dead at 48: Ex-Arsenal and Liverpool goalkeeper passes away after after his car was hit by a train

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Manninger has died aged 48 after his car was struck by a training on Thursday morning.

The incident occurred at a level crossing near Salzburg at about 8.20am local time (7.20am BST), Salzburg police have reported.

They also said first responders used a defibrillator on Manninger, who was alone in the car, after he was freed from the vehicle, which was dragged along by the train, but could not resuscitate him.

Police also said that the train driver was unharmed.

Manninger joined Arsenal in 1997 and went on to make 64 appearances in all competitions for the club before leaving in 2002.

His time in north London was spent largely as back-up goalkeeper to David Seaman, but he did win the Premier League and FA Cup in his first season there in 1997-98.

During his career, he played for 14 teams in total across Europe – including Italian giants Juventus.

He signed a short-term deal with Liverpool as a 39-year-old in 2016 but did not play in his one campaign there, before retiring in the summer of 2017.

He won 33 caps for Austria and was part of the squad that featured at Euro 2008 in his home country.

Tributes pour in for Alex Manninger

Following news of his death, tributes have flooded in for Manninger.

‘Everyone at Arsenal is shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic passing of former goalkeeper, Alex Manninger,’ Arsenal posted on X.

‘All our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this incredibly sad time.’

Seaman told the Press Association: ‘It is devastating news. It is really sad and it is difficult to get your head around it.

‘Like me, he was a fisherman and we spent many hours together on the lakes. My thoughts are with his wife and young family.’

Red Bull Salzburg said they ‘mourn’ their former goalkeeper, while Liverpool said they were ‘deeply saddened’ by the news.

Manninger made 42 appearances for Juventus, filling in for injured first-choice stopper Gianluigi Buffon.

‘Today is a terribly sad day,’ Juventus posted on X. ‘He has left us not only as a great athlete, but as a man of rare values: humility, dedication, and an extraordinary professional seriousness.

‘Juventus expresses its condolences for the passing of Alex Manninger and stands with the family in this moment of grief.’

Meanwhile Austrian Football Association sporting director Peter Schottel said: ‘Alexander Manninger was an outstanding ambassador for Austrian football, both on and off the pitch.

‘His professionalism, composure and reliability made him an integral part of his teams and the national team.

‘His achievements deserve the utmost respect and will be unforgettable.’