Levi Rothermund
Austrian football suffered a devastating loss on Thursday morning when Alexander Manninger, the nation’s former national goalkeeper, died in a collision between his vehicle and a train near Nußdorf am Haunsberg in Salzburg. The 48-year-old was struck by a local train at a railway crossing at approximately 8:20 a.m.
Emergency responders arrived to find first aiders had already extracted Manninger from his car. Police and rescue personnel initiated resuscitation efforts, deploying a defibrillator at the scene. Despite intensive medical intervention, his injuries proved fatal. The train operator remained unharmed. The Salzburger Lokalbahn line was closed for several hours following the incident.
A Career Spanning European Football
Manninger began his professional journey in 1984 at SV Austria Salzburg, the club where he developed into one of Austria’s most accomplished goalkeepers. His career took him across Europe’s top leagues, including stints at Arsenal in England, Espanyol Barcelona in Spain, and Italian clubs Bologna, Siena, and Udinese. He also represented Juventus, FC Augsburg, and concluded his playing days at FC Liverpool in 2009.
On the international stage, Manninger earned 34 caps for Austria’s national team, establishing himself as a reliable presence between the posts during his country’s qualifying campaigns and competitive fixtures.
Tributes Pour In From Former Club
Austria Salzburg released a statement expressing their shock at the tragedy.
“With great consternation we learned of the tragic accident in Nußdorf in which Alexander Manninger lost his life. Alexander was not only part of the Austria family from 1984 to 1996, but above all a person who left his mark both on and off the pitch. In these heavy hours, our deeply felt sympathy goes out to his family, relatives, and all who were close to him.”
The club’s message underscored Manninger’s lasting impact on Austrian football and his significance to the organization that launched his legendary career.