Juventus has expressed deep sorrow following the untimely death of their former goalkeeper, Alexander Manninger, who passed away at the age of 48 in a car accident in Austria. The club remembered him as “a man of rare values.”
The Italian giants shared a heartfelt tribute on social media, marking a somber day for the club and the wider football community. Manninger, who spent four seasons with Juventus and was part of their Serie A-winning squad in 2011-12, made 40 appearances for the club.
Juventus’s statement read: “Today is a very sad day. We have lost not only a great athlete but a man of rare values: humility, dedication, and an exceptional sense of professionalism. Alex Manninger will be remembered for the example he set, on and off the pitch. Juventus expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of Alex Manninger and stands close to his family in this moment of grief.”
Manninger’s career in Italy also included stints with Torino, Siena, Bologna, and Fiorentina, accumulating 137 appearances in Serie A. Prior to his time in Italy, the former Austrian international won a Premier League title with Arsenal in the 1997-98 season.
In a poignant interview given just days before his death, Manninger spoke of his strong connection to Italian football and his close bond with Juventus legend Gianluigi Buffon, referring to Siena as his “home.”
