Alex Manninger
An Austrian goalkeeper whose career arc took him from understudy to a Premier League giant-killer and a surprise title winner in Italy.
Born 1977 (age 49)·Austrian footballer·Birthday: June 4·Generation X
Biography
Alexander Manninger's football journey is a study in patience and unexpected peaks. Emerging in Austria, his big break came in 1997 when he moved to Arsenal as understudy to David Seaman. He seized his moment during a crucial title run-in, going 10 games unbeaten and helping secure the Premier League and FA Cup double in 1998. His career then became a European odyssey, with stops in Spain, Italy, Germany, and a return to England. His most remarkable late chapter came at Juventus, where, as a backup, he collected Serie A winner's medals in 2015 and 2016 without playing a league minute, a testament to his valued presence. Manninger earned 33 caps for Austria, representing his nation at Euro 2008 on home soil.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Alex was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alex Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Alex's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Premier League and FA Cup double with Arsenal in the 1997-98 season, playing a key role during David Seaman's injury.
- Earned two Serie A winner's medals with Juventus in 2015 and 2016 as part of the squad.
- Represented the Austria national team 33 times, including at the UEFA European Championship in 2008.
- Played professionally in five different countries: Austria, England, Italy, Spain, and Germany.
Did You Know?
He kept six clean sheets in his first nine Premier League starts for Arsenal during their 1997-98 title charge.
Manninger was signed by Juventus in 2012 on the recommendation of fellow goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
He officially retired from professional football twice, in 2017 and again in 2023 after a brief comeback.
“You must always be ready, because your chance can come at any moment.”
