Liverpool have announced the signing of Alex Manninger on a short-term contract, 15 years after the goalkeeper last played in the Premier League.
The 39-year-old spent four seasons in Arsenal's squad between 1997 and 2001. He was primarily used as a backup to David Seaman, but won a Premier League winner's medal in 1998.
Manninger has since had a nomadic career with spells in Italy, Spain, Austria and Germany before he was released by Ausburg at the end of last season. He retired from international football in 2009.
📸 He's gained tons of experience in his career - see photos of Alex Manninger's journey: https://t.co/onpxe4SNXM pic.twitter.com/MUFUHhr0pk
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 22, 2016
The Austrian will be expected to act as cover for Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet, but the length of his contract is not publicly known.
Speaking to Liverpool's official website, Manninger revealed that he expected to retire, before he got the call.
"Honestly, it was a surprise. After these years, in Italy and the last four years in Germany, I hadn’t given up, I hadn’t said ‘that’s it’, I still waited for the phone call."
"When Liverpool was on the phone, it was a great pleasure for me to take it on because it gives me what I was looking for. This is the moment I was waiting for until the end."
He takes the number 13 jersey, which was last worn by striker Anthony Le Tallec.
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