Former Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Manninger has died following a vehicle accident in Austria. The 48-year-old was driving his car when it was struck by a train at a level crossing on Thursday morning, per reports from the Austrian Press Agency. Emergency services arrived at the scene, but the former professional player died from his injuries.
Manninger represented Arsenal between 1997 and 2002, notably playing a significant role in the club winning the double in 1998. During that season, he kept six consecutive clean sheets while standing in for the injured David Seaman. He also earned 33 caps for the Austrian national team throughout a career that included spells at Juventus, Fiorentina, and Liverpool, according to Sky Sports.
Arsenal officials expressed their condolences to the family of the goalkeeper, who retired from professional football in 2017. He had most recently lived in his native Austria, where he managed various business interests. The local authorities have opened an investigation into the circumstances of the collision, as reported by Reuters.
