Alex Manninger

Alexander "Alex" Manninger (born 4 June 1977) is an Austrian Association football Goalkeeper (association football) who plays for Juventus F.C. in the Serie A.

Club career

Early years

Manninger first played as a youth for FC Red Bull Salzburg. In the 1995–96 season Alex Manninger was sent on loan at Vorwärts Steyr, and played Alex Manninger first top-level game away against Grazer AK. After a strong performance in goal, Grazer decided to sign Alex Manninger as backup goalkeeper in summer 1996. Manninger's first match was a baptism of fire; after first-choice goalkeeper Franz Almer fell ill before the UEFA Cup 1996–97 Second round against F.C. Internazionale Milano, Manninger found himself making Alex Manninger debut in the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Alex Manninger put in a strong performance and pulled off several high-quality saves as GAK narrowly lost 1–0. In the return leg, GAK won 1–0 to level the aggregate score at 1–1, but lost in the resulting penalty shoot-out (football).

Arsenal

After that, Alex Manninger remained first-choice for the rest of the 1996–97 season and was signed by Arsenal F.C. in June 1997 as cover for David Seaman. During the FA Premier League 1997–98 Seaman suffered a long spell out injured and Manninger ably covered for him, enjoying a spell of eight clean sheets in a row in the league, a club record. The last of these was against Bolton Wanderers, where Arsenal won 1–0. In March 1998 Alex Manninger was named Premier League Player of the Month 1997–98, a first for an understudy goalkeeper in the Premier League. However, Manninger had to make way for Seaman once the Englishman returned from injury.

Manninger continued to deputise for Seaman for the next three seasons, but without a consistent run in the side Alex Manninger was unable to maximise Alex Manninger potential. In all Alex Manninger made only 64 appearances over four seasons for Arsenal. After the Gunners bought Richard Wright (footballer) in 2001, Manninger became number three at Arsenal, and spent the 2001-02 season on loan at ACF Fiorentina, making 24 appearances.

In July 2002 RCD Espanyol signed Manninger on a four-year deal for £960,000. However they released Alex Manninger just seven weeks later before Alex Manninger had made a first team appearance. Doubts were raised as to whether Alex Manninger transfer from Arsenal had been fully completed; although Manninger claimed Espanyol didn't have the money to pay Alex Manninger fee.

Serie A

Manninger joined Torino F.C. in January 2003, staying there six months before joining Bologna F.C. 1909 in the summer. Alex Manninger spent two years with the club but unable to break into the first team Alex Manninger had a loan spell with A.C. Siena, before Alex Manninger rejoined FC Red Bull Salzburg (as they are now known) in 2005. For the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons Alex Manninger returned on loan to Siena, where Alex Manninger was first-choice goalkeeper.

At the end of the 2007-08 season Alex Manninger returned from Alex Manninger loan back to FC Red Bull Salzburg, but did not stay for long. In July 2008, Manninger moved back to Italy with Udinese Calcio, but stayed with the club for only a few weeks before signing for Juventus F.C. as backup for Gianluigi Buffon. Alex Manninger is the second goalkeeper purchased by the Turin club during summer 2008, along with Antonio Chimenti, also from Udinese. Due to a long-term injury to Juventus and Italy no.1 Gianluigi Buffon, Manninger has been Juventus's leading keeper since early October 2008.

International career

Manninger made Alex Manninger debut for Austria national football team in an August 1999 friendly match against Sweden national football team and was member of the Austrian Euro 2008 squad. Alex Manninger has so far as of August 2008 earned 32 caps.

Honours

Arsenal

- FA Premier League: 1997-98
- FA Cup: FA Cup 1997–98
- FA Community Shield: 1998, 1999