Former Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Manninger has died at the age of 48 after his car was struck by a train in Austria.
On Thursday, April 16, Manninger’s first soccer team, Red Bull Salzburg, announced that he had died.
“We mourn our former goalkeeper Alexander Manninger, who tragically lost his life in a traffic accident. Our thoughts are with his family and friends,” they wrote on X. “Rest in peace, Alexander. ”
Salzburg Police said that they responded to a traffic accident at a level crossing in Salzburg at around 8:20 a.m. The incident involved a train and a car, per the statement.
“Upon arrival, emergency responders found that the car’s driver, an 48-year-old man from Salzburg, had already been freed from the vehicle by first responders and was undergoing CPR,” the release read.
Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty
Authorities added that while resuscitation efforts and a defibrillator was used, the individual “succumbed to his injuries.”
“According to initial investigations, the car was struck and dragged by a train of the Salzburg Local Railway while crossing the tracks,” police wrote. “The driver was alone in the vehicle. The train driver was unharmed.”
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Manninger made 64 appearances for Arsenal, where he played for five years from 1997 to 2002, per the BBC.
He also played when the team won the Premier League and FA Cup double in 1998.
“Everyone at Arsenal is shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic passing of former goalkeeper, Alex Manninger,” Arsenal wrote on X. “All our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this incredibly sad time. Rest in peace, Alex
The soccer star also played for 14 different teams in Europe, including Juventus, Sienna and Augsburg, and briefly signed with Liverpool, but did not play.
“Alexander Manninger was an outstanding ambassador for Austrian football, both on and off the pitch,” Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) sporting director Peter Schöttel wrote in a statement. “His international career set standards and inspired and influenced many young goalkeepers. His professionalism, composure, and reliability made him an integral part of his teams and the national team.”
He added, “His achievements deserve the utmost respect and will be unforgettable. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
An investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
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