Our goalkeeping great David Seaman has paid tribute to his fellow shot-stopper and teammate Alex Manninger, who tragically died aged 48.
The Austrian played 64 times for us between 1997 and 2001, playing understudy to David between our posts during a period of great success under Arsene Wenger, and more than played his part in our 1997/98 Double-winning campaign when he filled in following an injury to David, helping us to some massive victories that paved the way towards two trophies.
A hugely popular figure at Highbury, David remembers a gifted goalkeeper and wonderful man.
“I remember Alex arriving at the start of the 1997/98 season,” he reminisced. “He was young and raw but had so much talent and athleticism. I can see him now diving around on the training pitches and getting angry if he didn’t manage to get to a ball – he was a real perfectionist.
“When I was injured in the January, he came into a situation that had an enormous amount of pressure. Alex had played a couple of games in the League Cup, was still only 20 and was now thrust into the heat of a fight for the Premier League title – and he was brilliant. For a very young keeper, it would have been understandable if he had struggled to cope, but he took his opportunity and excelled.
“That spell in the side was crucial to us winning the Double – who can forget the game at Old Trafford and the supporters in the crowd celebrating wildly, knowing what the win meant for the club?
“On the pitch he could be quite fiery. He was hard on himself if he didn’t make a save, but he was a great competitor and very brave too. Off it, he was the nicest, gentlest lad you could wish to meet. We spent many an hour on the training pitches together and away from football, I introduced him to fishing, which he loved. We would spend peaceful afternoons together at my local lake – where I remember he even caught the biggest fish!
“It was a privilege to know Alex, he just had a lovely way about him and I’ll always remember the time we spent together – he even came to mine for Christmas dinner one year, it was really nice for my family to spend time with him.
“It’s desperately sad for his family and my thoughts are with them and Alex’s many friends.”
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Alex Manninger: 1977-2026
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