Manninger won the league and cup double with the Gunners and enjoyed a lengthy career that ended with Jurgen Klopp‘s Liverpool in 2017.
After his retirement, he used his skills as a former carpenter and launched his own business renovating houses in Austria.
But this week police confirmed the tragic news that Manninger had been killed after the crash at an unguarded level crossing in Nussdorf am Haunsberg, Austria.
Earlier this month Manninger had given a detailed interview with Gazetta Dello Sport where he discussed the highs and lows of his career.
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He had fond memories of his spells in the Premier League after initially joining Arsene Wenger‘s Arsenal in 1997.
Manninger admitted he didn’t want to leave north London, but felt he had to in order to get more minutes.
He told the outlet: “It still excites me just thinking about it. I was 20 years old, I was a kid.
“Wenger wanted to bring an international dimension to the club and focus on youngsters, I was one of them.
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“Despite my age, I felt calm in goal. I had a monster like Tony Adams in front of me. He taught me a lot.
“I only have one regret: Leaving too soon. But you know, I wanted to play.”
He played 64 games across four seasons and was the first Austrian ever to play for the Gunners.
Manninger went on to play in Italy for Fiorentina, Torino, Bologna, Siena and Juventus.
He also had spells in Austria with Red Bull Salzburg and in Germany with Augsburg.
Manninger played a total of 309 games during his career as he rounded off his playing days with the Reds as back-up goalkeeper to first choice Simon Mignolet.
While he never played a game for Liverpool, he said it was still a special way to “say goodbye” to Liverpool.
He said: “It all started with a phone call. Jurgen knew everything about me. I’d beaten his Dortmund side with Augsburg two years earlier.
“[He said] ‘I want that goalkeeper there. That day you saved everything against us. You have to do it for me, too’.”
“I never actually played, I was 40, but leaving football and saying goodbye to the fans in front of the Kop was an amazing feeling.”
Tributes have been pouring in since news of Manninger’s sudden death broke on Thursday.
RB Salzburg wrote on X: “We mourn our 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.”
Juventus wrote: “Today is a terribly sad day. He has left us not only as a great athlete, but as a man of rare values: humility, dedication, and an extraordinary professional seriousness.
“Juventus expresses its condolences for the passing of Alex Manninger and stands with the family in this moment of grief.”
