Kyriakos Dourekas: “NEOM is building the future of football in Saudi Arabia”
Exclusive Interview with Kyriakos Dourekas, CEO of NEOM that speaks about various topics related to international football.
Kyriakos Dourekas, CEO of NEOM, opens up to Discoveryfootball.com editor-in-chief Manos Staramopoulos about the ambitious Saudi Arabian project, his own path to the top of the club’s management and the vision linked to the 2034 World Cup.
1-How did your collaboration with NEOM come about?
"The team’s management had expressed interest in the position of CEO and there was an evaluation process with five candidates. I went through successive interviews with the CEO, the president and the board of directors. I was finally selected and officially took over on July 14, 2024".
2-What exactly is NEOM as a project?
"NEOM is much more than a football team. It belongs to the broader project of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman. It is a young, dynamically developing team with great ambitions.
Last year we achieved promotion to the top division and are already building the foundations for a competitive future".
3-What was your first move when you took over?
"When I arrived in July 2024, I chose to stay in the country, even during the difficult summer, so that the reorganization of the club could begin immediately. It was crucial to have a clear plan from the beginning".
4-How much has the team changed since then?
"We have made significant changes at all levels. We have created a staff with international standards, while significantly strengthening the medical and analytical part.
Specifically, there are six Greek doctors and physiotherapists, as well as two analysts who came at my own choice".
5-What happened to the coaching issue?
"In the summer of 2025, the collaboration with Pericles Samouskas was completed and on July 5, Christophe Galtier, a coach with experience at the top level, having also worked at Paris Saint-Germain, took over the team.
At the same time, we kept the Portuguese assistant Rodrigo Magalhaes on the staff, who has great experience from the Benfica academies, where he worked for 14 years".
6-What are the team's competitive goals?
"We are currently in 8th place in a championship of 18 teams. Our main goal is not only the standings, but also the development of new talents.
We want to actively contribute to strengthening the Saudi Arabian national team in view of the 2034 FIFA World Cup"
7-What does NEOM's development plan include?
"The project is huge. Three new stadiums, modern facilities for the first team and a hotel are planned.
The team is based in Tabuk, a city of around 50,000 people with a strong love for football. The existing stadium has a capacity of around 15,000".
8-How do you experience the football culture in Saudi Arabia?
"People here live and breathe football. The interest is huge. A typical example is Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr, who are at the top of the standings and are favourites for the title. Ronaldo is truly adored and is a model professional. I believe he will stay in the country and will probably have an ambassadorial role at the 2034 World Cup".
9-How is the competition in the league shaping up?
"Al Hilal, coached by Simone Inzaghi, has been significantly strengthened after Prince Tala bought 70% of the club for 210 million euros. The level is constantly rising".
10-How much has the country changed in view of 2034?
"Saudi Arabia is in an incredible construction boom. New high-end stadiums are being prepared, such as Aramco (60,000 seats), Riyadh (80,000) and Katiya (100,000).
The change is reminiscent of what we saw in Qatar before the World Cup, but on a much larger scale. The country has a population of around 40 million and a huge geographical area".
11-What are your predictions for European and world football?
"For the UEFA Champions League, I think the trophy will end up either in Paris Saint-Germain. As for the next World Cup, I single out the national teams of Spain, France, England – also due to the presence of Thomas Tuchel – and of course Brazil with Carlo Ancelotti".
12-How easy is it to get to from Greece?
"There is now a direct connection with Aegean Airlines to Jeddah and Riyadh, which makes travel significantly easier".
13-Your future at NEOM?
"I have a contract until 2027 and I am fully committed to the project. What is being built here is something unique and I want to be part of this history".
Manos Staramopoulos
Journalist and Analyst of International Football and Affairs
Chief Editor English Zone of Discoveryfootball.com
Athens (Greece).
Post recientes
