Alex Manninger made his debut for Austria in 1999 and went on to make 33 appearances. | Photo Credit: AFP

Former Austria goalkeeper Alex Manninger, who played for Arsenal and a string of Italian clubs, died in a road accident on Thursday aged 48, the Austrian Football Association (OEFB) said.

The Kronen Zeitung and other media reported that Manninger’s vehicle was hit by a passenger train at an unmanned crossing near the Austrian city of Salzburg.

Manninger made 33 appearances for Austria and played for Arsenal, mainly as a reserve, between 1997 and 2001. He ended his career at Liverpool during the 2016-17 season.

In Italy, he played for Fiorentina, Torino, Bologna, Siena, Udinese and Juventus.

“Alexander Manninger was an outstanding ambassador of Austrian football on and off the pitch,” OEFB sporting director Peter Schöttel said in a statement.

“With his international career, he set standards and inspired and shaped many young goalkeepers. His professionalism, calmness and reliability made him an important part of his teams and the national side.”

Published on Apr 16, 2026