Melbourne Victory’s Brebner becomes Australian citizen

Melbourne Victory midfielder Grant Brebner yesterday became an Australian citizen and now has dual citizenship as a Scottish-Australian.

The 32-year old Edinburgh-born former Hibernian and Dundee United man never thought he would end up becoming an Australian when he first moved to Melbourne in 2006 but said things quickly changed.

"When I arrived here I originally thought I might play for a year," Brebner said.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine the league would take off as quickly as it did and how very quickly I would find myself quite settled and quite at home.

"After doing so well as a team on the park, and with things going well off it, I thought I'd be quite happy to stay here for the foreseeable future and then from the club's perspective it made sense to become a citizen and become a non-visa player, which is beneficial to the club."

Brebner’s decision to become a citizen has effectively made it easier for the Victory to pursue an extra foreign player as he was taking up an international spot on the playing list.