BREAKING: Arsenal and Liverpool Legend Dies in Horror Train Crash

(Arsenal Goalkeeper Alex Manninger. Photo by The Independent)

Alex Manninger, a former goalkeeper for Arsenal, passed away at the age of 48 after a train hit his car.

According to police, the incident happened at a level crossing close to Salzburg at approximately 8:20 local time. After releasing Manninger from the car that the train had dragged, emergency personnel tried to resuscitate him but were unable to bring him back to life.

The train driver was unharmed, and authorities verified he was the only person in the vehicle.

Between 1997 and 2002, Manninger played 64 games for Arsenal, where he won the FA Cup and the Premier League. In addition, he received 33 caps for Austria and was a member of the host team for UEFA Euro 2008.

Paying tribute, Austrian Football Association sporting director Peter Schottel said: “Alexander Manninger was an outstanding ambassador for Austrian football, both on and off the pitch.

“His professionalism, composure and reliability made him an integral part of his teams and the national team. “His achievements deserve the utmost respect and will be unforgettable.”

Manninger played for a number of clubs throughout Europe after starting his career with Red Bull Salzburg, including Juventus, Udinese and FC Augsburg. He later signed a short-term deal with Liverpool in 2016 at the age of 39, though he did not make an appearance.

Manninger was David Seaman's main backup at Arsenal, but he filled in when the England international was hurt in the latter half of the 1997–98 campaign. He was instrumental in Arsenal's FA Cup sixth-round triumph over West Ham United and made an impression in the team's historic victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

He was named Premier League Player of the Month for March 1998 as a result of his efforts.