Soccer / Football : Austria : Bundesliga 2008/2009

Red Bull Salzburg confirmed the signing of Slovakian midfielder Dusan Svento from Slavia Prague. The 24 year-old, considered one of the best foreigners in the Czech league, scored six goals in 82 matches for Slavia since 2005. Svento scored one goal in 15 internationals for Slovakia.

The 37-year-old Red Bull Salzburg midfielder and former Croatia captain Niko Kovac will retire from all football at the end of the season. His final match will be a friendly against Bayern Munich on July 10. Born in Berlin, Kovac started his professional career at Hertha Berlin in 1991. He later joined Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburg and Bayern Munich before returning to Hertha in 2003. Three years later, he moved to Salzburg.

Ivica Vastic, 39, will retire at the end of the season. The Austria forward, who is captain of LASK Linz, joined Sturm Graz in 1994 and spent eight years at the club, who reached the UEFA Champions League for three consecutive seasons while he won the Player of the year award as many times. Vastic, who was born in Split, Croatia, received Austrian citizenship in 1996 and converted a penalty at age 38 to give Austria a draw with Poland at EURO 2008, becoming the oldest player to score at a European Championship.

Salzburg are the new champions of Austria's Bundesliga after their 2-1 victory over LASK Linz a Rapid defeat against Ried. Titleholders and closest rivals Rapid Vienna suffered a 3-0 loss at Ried that left them unable to bridge the seven-point gap with two games remaining. Salzburg have won more matches than any other team (23) and scored the most goals (83) throughout a season which they have dominated almost from the start. Top scorer Marc Janko, who has notched 39 league goals in 29 appearances for Salzburg, added the most recent of those against LASK on Saturday.