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Brebner has Victory coaching ambition

3 minute read

He would love to be Melbourne Victory's fulltime coach but Grant Brebner says finishing the club's poor 2019-20 A-League season in style is his focus.

Victory interim Head Coach, GRANT BREBNER gives instructions during a Melbourne Victory A-League training session at Gosch's Paddock in Melbourne, Australia.
Victory interim Head Coach, GRANT BREBNER gives instructions during a Melbourne Victory A-League training session at Gosch's Paddock in Melbourne, Australia. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Melbourne Victory interim coach Grant Brebner would love to take up the position permanently if given the opportunity.

The former championship-winning midfielder has seemingly forced his way into contention for the role after his handling of Victory following the A-League restart, including a thumping 4-0 win over Perth Glory.

Victory will wrap up a forgettable 2019-20 campaign with a dead rubber against Western Sydney on Wednesday before a new fulltime coach is announced, possibly as soon as this week.

Brebner is understood to be one of three men vying for the permanent role along with hot favourite Arthur Papas and former Socceroo John Aloisi.

Papas, an assistant to ex-Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou at J-League champions Yokoham F. Marinos, is the frontrunner but Brebner's guidance since the A-League's restart is understood to have put him in the frame.

While fulfilling his current commitments remains a focus, Brebner said he would not refuse an offer to take on the job permanently.

"I've never made any bones about where I see myself at the moment as a coach," he said.

"I was asked to come in here as an interim role, which is what I'm doing.

"Would I like to coach this club in a senior head coach role in a fulltime basis one day? Absolutely. I've never ever said I wouldn't.

"When that happens, if that happens, is out of my control.

"At the moment, I'm interim coach doing the best I can and whatever happens, moving forward, at any point, I would consider."

Wednesday's game at Bankwest Stadium pits 10th-placed Victory against the ninth-placed Wanderers with neither team in finals contention.

Brebner believes there's plenty of motivation for his players to finish the season to forget on a high with their future at the club on the line.

"It might be the last time several players run out from this football club so there's a lot of things still there to play out," Brebner said.

"We still have to show that we are committed, right to the end ... we won't be going out there with a mentality of just seeing this game out for 90 minutes."

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