Only later did it become known that the victim was Alex Manninger — the former goalkeeper of Arsenal and Liverpool, who was just 48 years old.
The tragedy occurred in Austria, near Salzburg, at a railway crossing. His car collided with a train at approximately 8:20 a.m. According to preliminary reports, the vehicle was dragged several meters after the impact. He was alone in the car, while the train driver and passengers were unharmed.
Rescuers managed to free him from the vehicle, but all resuscitation attempts failed. An investigation is now underway, with authorities examining the crossing signals as well as electronic data from the vehicle to determine the exact cause of the accident.
The football community has already expressed its condolences. Clubs he played for, as well as former teammates, remember him not only as a talented goalkeeper but also as a man of character. He became the first Austrian player to appear in the Premier League, won titles with Arsenal, and claimed the Italian championship with Juventus.
His football career was remarkable, but after retiring, he chose a quieter life — away from stadium noise, closer to nature, family, and simple things. That is how he will be remembered — not only as an athlete, but as a person who lived life on his own terms.