Brebner, 42, has been called upon in an interim head coach role to guide the A-League giant through the remainder of the 2019/20 season when it resumes July 16. 

Victory sit in 10th on the A-League ladder with finals football seemingly a mission impossible. 

However, Thompson believes A-League clubs like Victory appointing former players steeped in club history will restore pride at such a storied A-League outfit. 

“You look at 'Brebsy', he’s got the DNA of the club at his heart,” Thompson told FTBL today. 

“He’s a legend. He knows the club from a player’s point of view – and now a coaching point of view – what it means to have success in the A-League with Victory.

“He’s been through so much, won things and he lives and breathes Victory.

“He can restore that old Victory feeling even if it’s going to be hard to make the finals.”

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Victory need wins badly with six games left and lying seven points away from the playoffs.

However, with an international strikeforce of Marco Rojas (New Zealand), Andrew Nabbout and Robbie Kruse (Socceroos) plus the livewire Elvis Kamsoba, Victory should have enough going forward to trouble most A-League clubs. 

Striker Robbie Kruse training with A-League club Victory this week

With a relatively short preparation after three months of players training at home, restoring pride in the shirt may have to be the former Hibernian man's goal.

Thompson believes the players will enjoy a shorter prep time.

“To be honest, before the A-League we had these shorter pre-seasons compared to these long 15-week pre-seasons you have in the A-League,” Thompson said.

“And with this, four weeks and ‘bang’ you’re back in it. The players will appreciate that.”

Victory are set to play again on July 16, four months after their last game when they face Western United in an A-League blockbuster at AAMI Park.

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Pic Special: Victory return to training

With a return date now confirmed, Melbourne Victory were first back on the paddock to get ready for the season restart next month, under the watchful eye of new interim boss Grant Brebner.

“I really want our players to play with freedom and embrace the brand of football our club has been known for over the past 15 years,” Brebner said this week.

The former Hibs player was Victory's assistant coach but takes over following Carlos Salvachua’s decision to return home to Europe.

Ex-Fulham, Crystal Palace, and Wales international  Jeff Hopkins will be an interim assistant coach for the remainder of the season. Hopkins has been W-League and Academy head coach at the A-League giant.

“Brebsy's amazing, I’ve seen snippets of him coaching the youth, and he’s got a great understanding and relationship with the players,” added Thompson. 

“Like Adelaide United with assistant coach Carl Veart who’s an Adelaide boy, taking over for the resumption of their season, these are former players who know their clubs so well,"  said Thompson, a former Socceroo and one of the greatest ever A-League strikers. 

Thompson spent seven trophy-laden seasons in front of midfielder Brebner at the A-League behemoth. 

Brebner, a former Scotland U-21 player who went through the Manchester United youth system, won multiple trophies A-League with Victory between 2006 and 2012. 

Victory, like most A-League clubs, returned to training this week. 

Brebner coaching the A-League side Victory this week

Brebner, who spent five years at Hibs making over 150 appearances for the Easter Road outfit, has a daunting task. 

Victory have made it clear Brebner is not in the frame for the role in the future. But restoring pride will be seen as a win for the interim head coach. 

Brebner added: “We have a great opportunity over the coming months to lay some strong foundations which the next Head Coach can then build on next season."