Thursday 11 August 2016 16:13, UK
Liverpool's Alex Manninger will return to Arsenal this weekend and has defied the odds to extend his career, according to former Gunners team-mate Graham Stack
Manninger, 39, is expected to be on the bench for Sunday's Premier League opener at Arsenal, live on Sky Sports 1, after Liverpool's other senior goalkeeper Loris Karius broke his hand in a 1-0 pre-season loss to Chelsea.
Stack was a teenager when he trained with Manninger under the tutelage of Bob Wilson and is convinced the Austrian can be a great mentor for the young players in Liverpool's squad.
"I never imagined Alex would be back in the Premier League let alone being on the bench against Arsenal at the Emirates but those are some of the surprises that football throws up," Stack told Sky Sports.
"I spent two or three years with Alex at Arsenal, and John Lukic and David Seaman were the other goalkeepers.
"Alex was an absolute gentleman and was a very good, athletic all-round goalkeeper. He trained like an absolute lunatic. He was intense and full of energy and enthusiasm.
"He was the ultimate professional - not just because of the way he trained and the way he lived - but also because of the way he prepared for training and prepared throughout the week."
Manninger went on to play for clubs including Espanyol, Red Bull Salzburg and Juventus following his departure from Arsenal in 2002 after failing to displace Seaman.
"He really looked after himself," added 34-year-old Stack. "As I've got older myself I've tried to take a leaf out of his book so I can extend my career and maybe get to 39 as well.
"It just goes to show if you do the right things and live the right way there is absolutely no reason why you can't do it and Alex is probably the best role model for that.
"He's already had Premier League experience with Arsenal and played abroad so he'll certainly add something at Liverpool in terms of personality and character around the training ground.
"I think he'll be fantastic and certainly for the younger keepers, he'll be a great role model and example for them to look up to in terms of the way he works."
Stack etched his name into Arsenal folklore after scoring a penalty and saving one on his debut for the club in a 9-8 shootout win against Rotherham in a League Cup tie in 2003.
"As soon as I found out I was starting I phoned my mum and dad who owned a pub in Hounslow and they booked two 30-seat coaches to take all the regulars to the game," explained Stack, who trained with Arsenal last week ahead of joining Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters.
"When I came out to warm up they were all sat there behind the goal. That added to the pressure on my shoulders and I will never forget that."
"I had a really good game but we conceded a last-minute equaliser and the match went to penalties.
In the end it was a bit surreal going to penalties at Highbury, saving one and scoring one with all of my family and friends there. It was all a little bit crazy but it was a moment I'll never forget and something I will cherish forever."
