Ex-Arsenal and Liverpool keeper Manninger killed in car crash with train

Alex Manninger played for Arsenal, Liverpool and Juventus at peak of his career while winning 33 Austria caps.Former Austria goalkeeper Alex Manninger, who played for Arsenal and a string of Italian clubs, has died at ⁠the age of 48 when the car he was driving was hit by a train at a crossing near Salzburg.The Austrian Football Association (OEFB) and clubs associated with ⁠the player, who retired as a professional in 2017, mourned his passing on Thursday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Doping is a ‘big problem’ in India, global anti-doping body chief sayslist 2 of 4England cricket captain Stokes ‘lucky’ to be alive after facial injurylist 3 of 4Ice hockey coach admits to faking COVID certificate to enter China Olympicslist 4 of 4‘BCCI a sporting adjunct of BJP’: Wisden slams India’s control of cricketend of listManninger made 33 appearances for Austria and played for Arsenal from 1997 to 2001 with the club winning the league title and FA Cup in the 1997-1998 season. He ‌ended his career at Liverpool in 2017.In Italy, the Austrian played for Fiorentina, Torino, Bologna, Siena, Udinese and Juventus.“Alexander Manninger was an outstanding ambassador of Austrian football on and off the pitch,” OEFB Sporting Director Peter Schoettel said in a statement.“With his international career, he has set standards and inspired and shaped many young goalkeepers. His professionalism, his calmness and his reliability made him an ⁠important part of his teams and also of the national ⁠team.”Salzburg police said in a statement that the accident happened about 8:20am (06:20 GMT). First responders freed the driver from the vehicle, but resuscitation was unsuccessful.“According to initial investigations, the car was ⁠hit by a railcar of the Salzburger Lokalbahn while crossing the railway crossing and dragged along. The driver was alone ⁠in the vehicle. The train driver was uninjured,” ⁠the police said.Fiorentina said they will observe a minute’s silence and wear black armbands for Thursday’s home Conference League game with Crystal Palace while league leaders Arsenal conveyed their shock on social media.