I’m a Premier League champion who quit Prem and returned 15 years later – now I renovate houses after retiring
A FORMER Premier League goalkeeper is now enjoying a completely different career – renovating houses.
Alex Manninger, now 46, joined Arsenal from Grazer AK in 1997 and went on to make 63 first team appearances.
During his time in North London he won the Premier League and the FA Cup, both in 1998.
The goalkeeper left Highbury in 2002 after falling behind both David Seaman and Richard Wright in the pecking order.
He then went on to play for 10 different clubs – including the likes of Torino, RB Salzburg, Udinese and Juventus – before returning to the Premier League.
After leaving Augsburg in 2016, Manninger trained with Liverpool to maintain match fitness while he looked for a club.
The Reds then signed him on a short-term contract, but he never made a competitive first team appearance.
The former Austria international, who made 33 appearances for his national team, announced his retirement the following year.
And he has since pursued an entirely different career.
Manninger now has his own renovation business in Austria.
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He got into the industry after studying carpentry.
The former goalkeeper told TMW: “I went back to my first love, did you know I was a carpenter before I became a footballer?
“Obviously we do something bigger now, because you do not go far to be a carpenter only. But this experience and the acquired knowledge have allowed me to deal with furnishings, construction.
“I have created a network with professionals, who are carpenters, masons, gardeners. I find myself with architects.
“Basically if you have land or a house to renovate, then with new furniture and new windows I’ll take care of it. It’s a job that I really enjoy.”
Manninger also has a passion for real estate and has significant holdings in Meininger Hotels.