Dourekas spoke on his journey in the football world

Kyriakos Dourekas has built a career inside football’s engine rooms. He prefers planning rooms to touchlines. He prefers structure to spotlight. Yet his influence continues to surface wherever ambition meets execution. After leaving Nottingham Forest for Saudi Arabian side Neom, the former Forest director of football admitted there is still something he misses.

That something is Evangelos Marinakis.

Despite calling his move to Saudi Arabia “exciting,” Dourekas made it clear that his bond with Forest’s owner remains strong.

“When Mr Marinakis wants something, it will happen, believe me,” Dourekas told BBC Sport. “His ambition is so big. Whenever he has something in his mind, and it’s his target, it will be done.”

Building Forest’s Future, Not Living in Its Past

Dourekas joined Nottingham Forest in 2018 from Olympiacos, another Marinakis-owned club. He arrived with a clear understanding of the owner’s expectations and belief system. That clarity helped Forest achieve something the club had chased for more than two decades.

Promotion to the Premier League in 2022 ended a 23-year absence from the top flight.

“A great man, entrepreneur and leader,” Dourekas said of Marinakis. “When I went there, I believed we could bring Nottingham Forest to the Premier League because I knew I had him as a leader.”

Dourekas believes Forest’s history worked against the club before that reset. “We were a little too much in the past,” he said. “Players coming in didn’t feel important, so we had a motto with Marinakis: ‘We respect the past, but we create the future.’ We wanted to create a Premier League future.”

Recruitment followed that philosophy. Decisions came through a collective process that included Marinakis, his son Miltiadis, the data department, and then director Ross Wilson. Structure mattered. Alignment mattered more.

The Leap to NEOM and a Blank Canvas

In July 2024, Dourekas made a move that surprised many inside English football. He accepted a role with Neom, a club being built from scratch inside Saudi Arabia’s ambitious megaproject on the Red Sea coast.

“I went to Marinakis and said I had an exciting new proposal,” Dourekas said. “It was my sixth year and he had a strong staff in place.”

The challenge appealed to his builder’s mindset. “We are building Neom as a club from the ground up,” he said. “We only have one pitch. No buildings. No infrastructure. Everything is built to help not just now, but to last.”

Neom’s vision centers on youth development. The club fields the youngest team in its league and places a heavy emphasis on developing Saudi players. Dourekas hopes that approach sets a precedent others will follow.

Recognition Beyond Results

Dourekas’ work has earned recognition beyond wins and promotions. He recently received the Mandela Award for Contribution to Sport. The honor recognized his belief that football can drive cultural exchange, social purpose, and long-term development.

The award reflects a career defined by foundations rather than headlines.

From Olympiacos to Nottingham Forest to the Saudi desert, Dourekas continues to chase the same idea. Respect the past. Build the future. And do it with purpose.

The Tampa Bay Rays are one step closer to calling Tampa their new home. Team leaders and Hillsborough College approved a non-binding memorandum of understanding that allows formal negotiations to begin. The agreement focuses on redeveloping roughly 113 acres of the Dale Mabry Campus into a modern stadium district.

Redevelopment Plan Covers Stadium and Mixed-Use District

The proposal outlines a multi-phase project including a new ballpark, hotels, housing, retail, and new academic facilities for the college. Supporters say the plan could reshape Tampa’s sports corridor and strengthen the city’s identity as a major sports hub.

Supporters See a Transformative Opportunity

Tampa resident Sergio Castillo praised the project during the public meeting. He said the stadium cluster could boost the city’s profile and fan experience. Castillo noted the proximity to Raymond James Stadium and Amalie Arena, calling the location ideal for sports fans. Supporters also highlighted the campus’ closeness to Tampa International Airport, which adds to the site’s appeal.

St. Petersburg Voices Concern Over Potential Loss

Across the bay, the reaction was far more cautious. Author Peter Golenbock said the move would hurt St. Petersburg’s identity as a major league city. He doubts many Pinellas County residents would regularly travel to Tampa for games. Golenbock recalled how the Rays helped revitalize Central Avenue and fears losing that momentum.

Key Terms of the Memorandum

The agreement does not finalize financing, design, or construction timelines. Instead, it grants both sides 180 days of exclusive negotiations to reach binding contracts. Hillsborough College would retain a portion of the land known as the “College District.” The Rays would lease the remaining acreage for at least 99 years and control the stadium and surrounding development. The mixed-use district could include hotels, retail, multifamily housing, sports facilities, and commercial buildings. The Rays would have exclusive control over the mixed-use development during and after construction.

College Operations Will Be Protected During Construction

Both parties must agree on construction plans. The memorandum requires stadium work to minimize disruption to college operations. Temporary facilities may be built to support academic programs during construction.

Next Steps in a High-Stakes Stadium Race

The deal is not final, but it marks the clearest step yet toward a Tampa stadium. The Rays and Hillsborough College aim to complete a formal agreement within six months. If successful, the project could reshape Tampa’s sports landscape for decades.

Yes, the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) had its flaws with controversial officiating but none of that changes the bigger truth that Morocco staged a tournament that celebrated African football.

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be remembered as one of the finest editions in the tournament’s long and proud history.

The month-long football spectacle went far beyond goals and tactics as it became a celebration of African culture, unity, and sporting excellence.

From state-of-the-art infrastructure and seamless transportation to passionate crowds and unforgettable matches, AFCON 2025 reaffirmed why the competition remains one of the most compelling international tournaments in world football.

Despite late controversy surrounding the final, the overall success of the tournament should not be overshadowed. Instead, Morocco’s hosting has set a new benchmark for African football and reinforced AFCON’s growing global relevance.

AFCON 2025 transcended football

It was a cultural festival as six historical Moroccan cities hosted 24 African nations, welcoming fans from across the continent and the global African diaspora.

Cities such as Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Fez, Tangier, and Agadir came alive with music, colour, and celebration.

Stadiums were packed, fan zones buzzed with activity, and local businesses flourished as visitors immersed themselves in Moroccan hospitality.

What stood out most was how seamlessly Morocco combined football with cultural identity, from traditional cuisine to music and street festivals, AFCON 2025 felt like a showcase of African pride, not just a sporting competition.

A new standard for African development

One of the most impressive aspects of AFCON 2025 was Morocco’s infrastructure and they demonstrated why they are viewed as one of Africa’s most capable sporting hosts.

The rail network connecting Fez, Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech made travel between host cities efficient and affordable.

Fans could attend matches in different cities without the logistical chaos that has plagued previous tournaments.

Even cities like Tangier and Agadir, though geographically distant, were well integrated into the tournament thanks to Morocco’s modern transport system.

At the heart of Morocco’s footballing vision lies the Mohamed VI Football Complex, a facility widely regarded as one of the best training centres in the world with 10 world-class training pitches amongst other facilities.

It was no surprise that Nigeria midfielder Alex Iwobi, a former England youth international, compared the Mohamed VI Complex to England’s St George’s Park in Staffordshire.

In addition, the complex served as a blueprint for how African football infrastructure should be developed and it is no exaggeration to conclude that Morocco delivered an organisational standard comparable to major FIFA tournaments.

African football excellence takes centre stage

Back to the pitch, the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations delivered thrilling football action from start to finish, with Morocco waiting until the second half to score two goals against Comoros and Senegal’s hard-fought win against the hosts in the final game.

With four African coaches – Walid Regragui (Morocco), Pape Thiaw (Senegal), Eric Chelle (Nigeria), and Hossam Hassan (Egypt)- guiding their teams into the last four, the tournament showcased Africa’s tactical sophistication, depth of talent, and competitive balance.

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A total of 121 goals were scored in the tournament which further asserted the rise of the continent’s explosive forwards like Brahim Diaz, Victor Osimhen, Mohamed Salah, Amad Diallo, Ademola Lookman and Sadio Mane.

Similarly, the impact of goalkeepers who showed the world that they can’t be ignored, from Edouard Mendy who made a historic penalty save in Sunday’s final to Stanley Nwabali who made two penalty saves in the third-place match against Egypt and Yassine Bounou’s brilliance as the tournament’s best shot-stopper.

AFCON 2025 shouldn’t be defined by final stain

Several irregularities marred Sunday’s final match between Senegal and Morocco at the Prince Moulaye Abdellah Stadium but it would be grossly unfair to allow these moments define the success of the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.

In comparison to the World Cup, the Euros and the UEFA Champions League, there have been controversial finals but the controversial incidents do not erase weeks of planning, world-class action and fans’ unity.

Sunday’s events – the controversial disallowed Senegal goal and the disputed penalty call – should prompt a deeper reflection and better officiating standards, and not overshadow Morocco’s organisational success.