Former Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Manninger has been killed in a car accident at the age of 48.
The Austrian Football Association and FC Red Bull Salzburg, one of his former clubs, confirmed the news.
“We mourn our former goalkeeper Alexander Manninger, who tragically lost his life in a traffic accident,” Salzburg said.
According to reports in Austria, Manninger’s car was struck by a train at a level crossing outside Salzburg on Thursday morning.
While an investigation into the fatal collision has been launched, the passengers on the train and the train driver were unharmed, according to local media reports.
Manninger made 64 appearances for Arsenal between 1997 and 2002, often serving as back-up to No 1 goalkeeper David Seaman.
But he was part of the Arsenal team that won the Premier League and FA Cup double in 1998, starting in the crucial Premier League victory at Manchester United in the March of that season when Seaman was injured.
Aged 20, Manninger started in six consecutive games for Arsenal while Seaman was unavailable and did not concede a goal, while he also played in the FA Cup quarter-final victory at West Ham, making key saves in the shoot-out as the Gunners progressed on penalties.
Although England international Seaman reclaimed his starting spot for the remainder of the season once he returned from injury, Manninger was awarded a Premier League winner’s medal for his contribution that campaign – even though he did not meet the number of required league appearances.
Much later in his career, Manninger joined Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, spending a year at the Reds between 2016 and 2017. Manninger did not play a match for Liverpool but he was signed as an experienced goalkeeper who could help the squad.
An Austria international, Manninger made 33 appearances for his country, including when Austria co-hosted Euro 2008. He also played for several Italian clubs, including Fiorentina, Siena and Juventus.
Salzburg were Manninger’s first team and the club said: "Our thoughts are with his family and friends. Rest in peace, Alexander."
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