Melbourne Victory has appointed two-time A-League champion Grant Brebner as its new head coach on a two-year deal with the intention to roll over.
Brebner becomes the club’s first permanent head coach since Marko Kurz’s sacking in January – succeeding former interim boss Carlos Salvachua who returned to Europe prior to the league’s restart.
Despite ruling himself out of the job prior to the competition’s restart, Brebner says his time spent in the hub shifted his attitude towards taking over full time.
”During the process of becoming the interim head coach I loved every minute of it,’’ he said.
”I started to believe I could be the right man to take this club to where it belongs. I was already in the building and I was working with players who were responding to what I was asking.’’
Victory Chairman Anthony Di Pietro says Brebner’s promotion into the role has been part of the club’s plans since his retirement, with the club hoping the former midfielder can deliver a ‘’dynasty’’ of success.
”Grant has been part of our plans to be a head coach at some point,’’ Di Pietro said.
”He will be supported by this club, he knows this club he has the character and learnings under his belt. Yes, he’s got a lot more to learn he knows that but we’ll provide the support, he is the right man for the job and he is ready he wants to take it on.
”We hope Grant stays on to build a dynasty, that’s what our intention is. His contract is for two years but the intention is to roll that on.’’
The club will not waste any time recruiting players for the upcoming season and continuation of the Asian Champions League, with a large portion of senior players – including Andrew Nabbout and James Donachie – having left for other clubs.
Brebner won plenty of admirers in his five games in charge through promoting several youth players – including Aaron Anderson and Luis Lawrie-Lattanzio – into the first team.
”We got recruitment wrong last year and it needs to get better. I will take full responsibility for the players who will come in and I think it needs to be that way,’’ Brebner said.
”One thing I’m big on is making sure we have a competitive environment where everybody wants to play. We’re going to have senior players knowing there are young players chomping at their heels and young players making sure they earn their spot. The young guys have already set a standard and its why we’ve made sure we’ve kept these guys for next season.’’
Brebner becomes just the second figure at Melbourne Victory to have both played and coached at the club.
Featured Image – Melbourne Victory FC
