[URL=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/soccer/wires/07/18/2080.ap.soc.ivanschitz.mainz.0110/index.html[/URL]
VIENNA (AP) -Former Austria captain Andreas Ivanschitz has left Panathinaikos and is set to sign a three-year contract with Bundesliga club Mainz 05.
His manager Georg Stanggassinger said the 26-year-old playmaker will sign a ?1.5 million ($1.97 million) deal on Sunday.
Ivanschitz said Saturday: "I wanted to switch to a better league. I want to be challenged more and play among the best players every week.''
Ivanschitz, who previously played with Rapid Vienna and Red Bull Salzburg before joining Panathinaikos in 2006, was not a regular starter for the Greek club last season and lost his place in Austria's squad under coach Dietmar Constantini.
His manager Georg Stanggassinger said the 26-year-old playmaker will sign a ?1.5 million ($1.97 million) deal on Sunday.
Ivanschitz said Saturday: "I wanted to switch to a better league. I want to be challenged more and play among the best players every week.''
Ivanschitz, who previously played with Rapid Vienna and Red Bull Salzburg before joining Panathinaikos in 2006, was not a regular starter for the Greek club last season and lost his place in Austria's squad under coach Dietmar Constantini.
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