Jovanovic leaves Rapid
Milan Jovanovic has left Rapid Vienna after just one year with the 32-time league champions.Rapid bosses said today (Weds) they had mutually agreed with the Montenegrin centre-back to end the contract. Jovanovic, 27, joined the team coached by Peter Pacult on a free transfer from Russian club Spartak Nalchik last summer. The national team player performed 15 times for Rapid.This news comes just weeks after Pacult announced plans to “thin out” his squad.”I want to work with a maximum of 24 players,” he explained in June speaking about the 29-member team.Sports papers tipped Jovanovic to leave Rapid before the 2010 summer transfer window closes on 31 August already before Pacults statement emerged.Rapid marched on in the UEFA Europa League qualification stage by beating Bulgarian cup champs PFC Beroe Stara Zagora 3-0 yesterday. The first leg ended 1-1 last week.Croat striker Nikica Jelavic who is linked with Glasgow Rangers scored twice (5, 60) before former Austrian national team defender Markus Katzer netted in the 71st minute.Austrian Bundesliga title holders Red Bull Salzburg clash with Cypriot side AC Omonia in the return leg of the third UEFA Champions League qualification round tonight. Last weeks first leg ended in a 1-1 draw.”Bulls” boss Huub Stevens said: “Everything is possible. Im not a pessimit, but a realist.”Red Bulls ambition to defend their league title suffered a blow last Sunday as they lost to Rapid 1-2 thanks to a last-minute strike by German midfielder Steffen Hofmann.