Ex-Juventus & Austria Keeper Alex Manninger Killed In Salzburg Level Crossing Accident

Former Arsenal, Liverpool goalkeeper Alex Manninger dies in train crash 

Alex Manninger, ex-Arsenal and Liverpool keeper who won the 1998 double, died Thursday in a car-train crash near Salzburg. He was 48. Cause under investigation.

Former Arsenal, Juventus and Austria goalkeeper Alex Manninger died aged 48 after his car collided with a train at a Salzburg level crossing. Police investigating...

Former Austrian goalkeeper Alex Manninger died Thursday after a car accident involving the Salzburg local railway. He was 48.

Manninger started his career at Austria Salzburg and in 1997 became the first Austrian to sign for Arsenal in the Premier League.

He played 39 games for Arsenal and was part of the squad that won the league and FA Cup double in 1997/98.

The Austria international spent most of the next phase of his career in Serie A. He made 137 appearances in Italy’s top flight, with his best spells coming at AC Siena and Juventus, where he served as Gianluigi Buffon’s backup and featured five times in the Champions League.

After leaving Turin, the Salzburg-born keeper moved to the Bundesliga with FC Augsburg, before finishing his career at Liverpool.

Manninger won 33 caps for Austria and was named in their UEFA Euro 2008 squad as second-choice goalkeeper.

Liverpool FC is deeply saddened by the passing of former goalkeeper Alex Manninger at the age of 48.

The thoughts of everyone at LFC are with Alex's family and friends at this difficult time.

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 16, 2026

Details of crash still unclear

The collision happened around 8:20am local time at an unguarded level crossing near Pabing in Salzburg. Manninger’s car hit a local train. The train driver and about 25 passengers were not injured.

Emergency crews responded, but Manninger died at the scene despite first aid.

Alex Manninger pictured in Arsenal kit

Cause under investigation

Officials are still investigating the exact cause of the accident. Manninger was alone in the car when it happened.