Former Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Manninger has died in a car accident, his club Red Bull Salzburg have announced.
Manninger, 48, helped Arsenal win the double in the 1997/98 season, making seven Premier League appearances as a substitute for David Seaman and saving a penalty in the FA Cup semi-final penalty shootout win against West Ham.
He played 64 games for the Gunners between 1997 and 2002, and went on to play in Serie A with Fiorentina, Siena and Juventus, the Austrian Bundesliga with Red Ball Salzburg and the German Bundesliga with FA Augsburg. He finished his career at Liverpool, but did not make any appearances there.
In a statement, Arsenal said: “Everyone at Arsenal is shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic passing of former goalkeeper Alex Manninger. All our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this incredibly sad time.”
Manninger also won 33 caps for Austria and was part of the Austrian squad for Euro 2008, which was co-hosted with Switzerland.
Red Bull Salzburg, where the player was a member of their academy, released a statement to X on Thursday: “We mourn the loss of former goalkeeper Alexander Manninger, who tragically lost his life in a traffic accident.”
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends. Rest in peace, Alexander.”
