The Allianz Stadium was filled with emotion before Juventus’ match against Bologna on Saturday evening, as the club dedicated a heartfelt tribute to former goalkeeper Alex Manninger. Manninger tragically passed away in a road accident in Austria earlier this week.
Manninger, who also played for Fiorentina and Siena, spent four years with Juventus between 2008 and 2012. During his tenure, he made 42 appearances across all competitions and played a significant role in the club’s resurgence to the top of Italian football after their relegation to Serie B. He was part of the team that won a Scudetto, marking a crucial period of rebuilding in the club’s modern history.
In a poignant gesture, Juventus’ current goalkeepers, Michele Di Gregorio, Simone Scaglia, and Carlo Pinsoglio, warmed up wearing the number 13 shirt with Manninger’s name on the back. This simple yet deeply moving act was met with warm applause from the stadium crowd.
Prior to the kickoff, former teammates Gianluigi Buffon, Leonardo Bonucci, and Giorgio Chiellini carried a floral wreath onto the pitch, inscribed with “Ciao Alex.” Buffon was visibly moved by the occasion, having previously expressed his sorrow on social media following the accident.
The stadium announcer read a tribute that encapsulated Manninger’s impact: “Alex wore our shirt. He was a loyal man, an exemplary teammate, a person of enormous worth. He was one of the protagonists of a group that, step by step, returned to winning. We will never forget Alex, you will always be with us, in our home.”
A minute of silence followed, temporarily pausing the football as the club and its fans collectively remembered their former player.
