Austrian goalkeeper Alex Manninger has tragically passed away at the age of 48 after his vehicle was struck by a train. Manninger gained prominence during his time at Arsenal FC, where he made 64 appearances between 1997 and 2002. During this period, he managed to win the Premier League and the FA Cup, being part of a highly successful squad. At the international level, he represented Austria in 33 matches and was part of the team that participated in UEFA Euro 2008, a tournament held in his home country. The sporting director of the Austrian Football Association, Peter Schottel, highly valued his figure, describing him as an excellent ambassador of Austrian football, both on and off the field. He emphasized that Manninger's professionalism, calmness, and reliability made him an important element in every team he played for. Throughout his career, Manninger began his journey with Red Bull Salzburg and later played for 14 teams across Europe, including Juventus, Udinese, and Augsburg. In 2016, he signed a short-term contract with Liverpool at the age of 39 but did not manage to make his debut. During his time at Arsenal, Manninger was primarily the backup to legendary goalkeeper David Seaman but took on a key role at the end of the 1997-98 season following Seaman's injury. He contributed to the team's successes, including a significant victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford, and was named Premier League Player of the Month for March 1998.