Former Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Manninger has died at the age of 48 after his car was hit by a train in Salzburg, Austria. The accident occurred on Thursday at approximately 8:20am at a level crossing in Pabing, near Nussdorf am Haunsberg.
Manninger was freed from his vehicle after it was dragged several metres and treated by first responders, but could not be resuscitated. He was alone in his vehicle; the train driver and around 25 passengers were unharmed.
I cannot describe the unimaginable pain I feel.
An investigation by the public prosecutor is ongoing, and electronic data from Manninger's Volkswagen minivan may be analysed, according to Bild. The red signal at the level crossing will be examined to determine if it was operational, multiple reports indicate. However, the local police said the crossing was unguarded, raising questions about the exact nature of the safety measures in place.
Manninger became the first Austrian player to star in the Premier League after signing for Arsenal in 1997, according to multiple reports. He was second-choice goalkeeper at Arsenal between 1997 and 2002, and kept a clean sheet in his first six league games after replacing injured David Seaman in January 1998, major media outlets report. Research indicates that Manninger earned the Premier League Player of the Month award in March 1998. He made 39 appearances for Arsenal, according to major media.
Everyone at Arsenal is shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic passing of former goalkeeper, Alex Manninger. All our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this incredibly sad time.
Manninger won the league title and FA Cup double with Arsenal during his 39 appearances, according to multiple reports. He later played for Torino, Siena, Red Bull Salzburg, Udinese, Augsburg, and Juventus, winning the Scudetto with Juventus, major media outlets report. He also played for Fiorentina, according to other reports.
Manninger earned 33 caps for Austria. He was part of the national team squad that competed at Euro 2008 on home soil, research shows. He ended his career at Liverpool in 2017, according to other reports.
The news of Alex Manninger's death is deeply shocking. With him, football loses a special person. In this difficult time, our sincere condolences go to his family, his friends, and all who were close to him.
Manninger is survived by his wife Emily and two children, according to multiple reports. According to Expressen Sport, Emily Manninger described the unimaginable pain she feels. He was a teammate of Fredrik Ljungberg at Arsenal, other sources note.
Arsenal said in a statement: "Everyone at Arsenal is shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic passing of former goalkeeper, Alex Manninger. All our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this incredibly sad time." The Austrian Football Association said: "The news of Alex Manninger's death is deeply shocking. With him, football loses a special person. In this difficult time, our sincere condolences go to his family, his friends, and all who were close to him." Juventus described him as "a man of rare values."
A man of rare values.
Several unknowns remain: what caused the car to be on the tracks at the time of the collision, whether the level crossing signal was functioning properly, and whether there were any witnesses. Manninger's destination or reason for being at that location is also unclear. It is not yet known if his former clubs will plan any posthumous tributes or memorials.