The Allianz Stadium fell into a moment of profound emotion before Juventus ' match against Bologna on Saturday evening, as the club paid a heartfelt tribute to former goalkeeper Alex Manninger, who tragically lost his life in a road accident in Austria earlier this week.
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Manninger, who also represented Fiorentina and Siena among others during his career, spent four years at Juventus between 2008 and 2012, making 42 appearances in all competitions and playing a meaningful role in the club's return to the summit of Italian football following their relegation to Serie B.
He won a Scudetto during his time at the club, a detail that speaks to the significance of his contribution during one of the most important rebuilding periods in the club's modern history.
All three of Juventus' current goalkeepers, Michele Di Gregorio , Simone Scaglia and Carlo Pinsoglio , warmed up wearing the number 13 shirt bearing Manninger's name, a simple but deeply affecting gesture that drew warm applause from around the ground.
TURIN, ITALY – APRIL 19: Former footballers Giorgio Chiellini and Gianluigi Buffon carry a wreath for the late Alex Manninger prior to the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Bologna FC 1909 at Allianz Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
Before kick-off, Gianluigi Buffon, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, former teammates who knew Manninger as a colleague and a friend, carried a floral wreath onto the pitch beneath the home curve, bearing the words "Ciao Alex."
The cameras caught Buffon visibly moved, his composure tested by the weight of the occasion. The former Italy captain had already expressed his grief publicly on social media in the immediate aftermath of the accident.
The stadium announcer then read a tribute that captured the essence of what Manninger meant to the club.
"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. The football, for a moment, could wait.
