Alex Manninger told emotional Liverpool story in final interview before death

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Alex Manninger gave an interview just days before his sudden passing where he recalled a phone call with Jurgen Klopp that convinced him to see out his career with Liverpool .

The Austrian goalkeeper, whose final spell came at Anfield after a period with Arsenal in the 1990s, sadly died at the age of 48 on Thursday after his car was struck by a train in Salzburg. Local reports state that Manninger was driving at a level crossing in Pabing, near Nussdorf am Haunsberg, at 8:20am before his vehicle was dragged several metres by the train. He died at the scene.

Manninger played for the likes of Fiorentina, Torino, Bologna, Siena, Juventus , Red Bull Salzburg and Augsburg. It was with the latter that he caught Klopp's attention, prompting the German to bring him to Anfield.

The Austrian had excelled for Augsburg as they beat Klopp's Borussia Dortmund side, with his performance leaving its mark on the former Liverpool boss.

He told Gazetta Dello Sport : “It all started with a phone call. Jurgen knew everything about me. I’d beaten his Dortmund side with Augsburg two years earlier. [He said] ‘I want that goalkeeper there. That day you saved everything against us. You have to do it for me, too’. I never actually played, I was 40, but leaving football and saying goodbye to the fans in front of the Kop was an amazing feeling.”

Manninger would serve as back-up to Simon Mignolet whilst at Anfield, but ultimately never got on the pitch. It didn't harm his experience though, which was his second in the Premier League after being part of a winning Arsenal outfit.

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The Austrian was part of the first double side assembled by Arsene Wenger , who claimed the league and FA Cup in 1998. The Gunners produced a stunning run in the second half of the year with Manninger admitting he benefitted massively from playing behind Tony Adams.

“It still excites me just thinking about it," he recalled. "I was 20 years old, I was a kid. Wenger wanted to bring an international dimension to the club and focus on youngsters, I was one of them. Despite my age, I felt calm in goal. I had a monster like Tony Adams in front of me. He taught me a lot. I only have one regret: Leaving too soon. But you know, I wanted to play.”

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