Alex Manninger was recognised for his record-breaking contributions throughout his debut season with Arsenal.
The Austrian goalkeeper, who sadly handed away on Thursday aged 48, spent 5 years with the Gunners.
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Throughout that point, he made a complete of 64 appearances throughout all competitions.
Manninger additionally gained 4 trophies together with a league and cup double in 1998.
His function in each their Premier League and FA Cup triumphs beneath Arsene Wenger was essential regardless of his lack of minutes.
Born in Salzburg, Manninger started his profession with native facet SV Salzburg, who would later turn into Pink Bull Salzburg in 2005.
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It was after transferring to Grazer AK that his performances would earn a transfer to north London, although.
Manninger signed for the Gunners in the summertime of 1997 forward of Wenger’s first full season as supervisor.
Manninger’s particular exemption
Arriving as an understudy to David Seaman, Manninger would function Arsenal’s cup goalkeeper throughout the first half of the marketing campaign.
An harm to the England worldwide would see him thrust into the midst of the Gunners’ title push in January 1998.
Seaman was dominated out for 2 months because of his harm setback, with Manninger lastly making his league debut for the membership.
He would go on to maintain six clear sheets in a row as Arsenal gained 5 of their six Premier League matches while Seaman was sidelined.
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Their run of six successive league outings with out conceding is a joint-club document.
Manninger’s heroics even earned him the Participant of the Month award in March 1998.
Seaman would regain his place within the facet after returning to health as Arsenal continued their march in the direction of the title.
A ten-match profitable run which started throughout Manninger’s run within the facet noticed them clinch the title with two matches to spare.
With prime spot secured, Wenger handed Manninger a recall for a visit to Anfield in Could 1998, though Arsenal had been crushed 4-0 by Liverpool.
Regardless of that defeat, they ended the season a degree forward of Manchester United on the Premier League’s summit.
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Nonetheless, Manninger had made simply seven league appearances throughout the title-winning marketing campaign.
In consequence, he was not routinely eligible for a winners’ medal because of the threshold being set at ten appearances.
The Premier League subsequently handed Manninger particular dispensation, although, as a result of his vital contributions to the league victory.
Manninger’s heroics throughout the 1997/98 season additionally prolonged to the FA Cup as Arsenal accomplished a league and cup double.
He featured 5 occasions throughout their run to the ultimate, together with a notable efficiency in opposition to West Ham within the quarter-finals.
Arsenal progressed to the final 4 on penalties after Manninger had saved Eyal Berkovic’s effort from 12 yards.
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Manninger’s post-Arsenal profession
Manninger would stay at Highbury till July 2002, when he was offered to Spanish facet Espanyol.
It adopted a season-long mortgage spell at Fiorentina following the arrival of Richard Wright the earlier summer season.
Though he initially moved to Spain, Manninger spent the vast majority of his profession in Italy.
He featured for a complete of six Italian golf equipment with stints at Torino, Bologna, Brescia, Siena, Udinese and Juventus.
Throughout his time with Juve, Manninger gained the second league title of his profession because the Previous Girl completed prime of Serie A within the 2011/12 season.
His post-Arsenal days additionally included a return to his first membership, now generally known as Pink Bull Salzburg.
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Manninger later spent 4 years in Germany with Augsburg earlier than returning to the Premier League to complete his profession.
The veteran keeper joined Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool for the 2016/17 season as cowl for Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet.
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Nonetheless, he would finish the marketing campaign with out making an look earlier than retiring aged 40 as soon as the season had concluded.
Manninger, who additionally gained 33 caps for Austria, later labored in furnishings and actual property after hanging up his boots.
