Victory to sign Dellas
‘Colossus’ to coach
MELBOURNE Victory is close to confirming Greek legend Traianos Dellas as its new coach.
A club spokesman said on Friday the “process” of bringing Dellas to the Victory was nearing completion.
Dellas, 44, made 55 appearances for Greece and helped it to 2004 European Championships glory.
Dubbed the “Colossus of Rhodes”, the defender played for a host of clubs, including Sheffield United, Roma, Perugia and AEK Athens,
He was appointed coach of AEK Athens in 2013, and has since also guided the fortunes of Greek clubs Atromitos and Panetolikos.
Wellington coach Ufuk Talay has also been linked to Victory, but the Phoenix has reportedly insisted he honour his three-year deal.
Under interim coach Grant Brebner, the club restarts its 2019-20 A-League season on Saturday night against Victorian rival Western United at Bankwest Stadium.
Brebner, appointed after the departure of Spanish mentor Carlos Salvachua, said “what will be, will be” in the remaining five matches in what hat has been a disappointing campaign for the fourtime champion.
“It feels like we’ve been preparing for this s game and only this s game for about six x weeks, which we have,” former Victory midfielder Brebner said.
“If I’m being truth- ful, this is the hardest t part for me, the media a side of it.
“When I’m on the grass I feel at home, and I think the players have responded to it.”
He said he was disappointed to be without Socceroos attacker Robbie Kruse, who will miss the rest of the season after injuring his knee.
“I was looking forward to seeing Robbie play for the club again,” he said.
But Brebner said Kruse’s absence, and the departures of Ola Toivonen and Tim Hoogland, presented opportunities to the emerging talent.
“I’ve come up here with a lot of young players who are going to feature at all points of this five-game period,” he said.
Brebner found it amusing Western United counterpart Mark Rudan had been studying videos of the Victory’s WLeague team — coached by Brebner’s assistant Jeff Hopkins — in an effort to have every base covered in terms of potential tactics.
“It’s great that ‘Rudes’ went to that in-depth knowledge on doing some scouting on us, but if it’s been the W-League he’s been watching, then he might get a little shock,” he said.
“They (United) are a decent side and they seem to be getting better and better. What we expect is what we know. We don’t envisage any surprises.
“If we’re worrying about Western United more than we want, we we’re re in a bit of trouble. trouble.”