Kyriakos Dourekas makes astonishing Ryan Yates claim after leaving Nottingham Forest
By 247sportcity | Thursday, January 22, 2026
NOTTINGHAM – In the modern era of the Premier League, where squads are often overhauled with multimillion-pound imports every six months, the story of Ryan Yates stands as a defiant anomaly. He is the heartbeat of the City Ground, the captain of the ship, and remarkably, the last remaining soldier from the historic 2022 squad that secured promotion at Wembley Stadium.
However, a stunning revelation has emerged from a former high-ranking official that suggests the man affectionately known as “Mr. Nottingham Forest” almost never made it to the top flight at all. Speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham, former Head of Football Operations Kyriakos Dourekas has made the “astonishing” claim that previous Forest managers actively sought to get rid of the academy graduate before his rise to stardom.
The Revelation: From ‘Release List’ to Club Captain
Kyriakos Dourekas, who served as a pivotal figure in Forest’s football operations during their transition from the Championship to the Premier League, painted a picture of a player who had to fight his own coaching staff just to keep his locker at the training ground.
According to Dourekas, the path for Yates was not paved with the universal support one might expect for a local boy. While the fans saw a tireless engine, some former managers saw a player who was surplus to requirements.
“He was from Nottingham, so his passion was immense for us. He was a local boy from the academy,” Dourekas told BBC Radio Nottingham. “At some point, they wanted to loan him out, even release him, but we kept him, played him more and helped him.”
The idea that Nottingham Forest once considered “releasing” a player who has now made 258 senior appearances is a staggering thought for the Forest faithful. It suggests a massive divide in the past between the club’s technical directors and the managers in the dugout regarding the value of homegrown grit versus external flair.
[Table: The Ryan Yates Legacy — By The Numbers]
Yates has defied the odds under multiple regimes, outlasting hundreds of teammates and several managerial cycles.
| Metric | Detail |
| Senior Appearances | 258 |
| Status | Club Captain & Last 2022 Promotion Survivor |
| Premier League Role | Rotation / Leadership Figure |
| Current Value | Vital Dressing Room Pillar |
| Managers Served | Cooper, Nuno, Postecoglou, Dyche |
The Eternal Underdog: Life Under Dyche and Postecoglou
Despite his status as a club legend, the last two seasons have proven that Yates is still fighting the same battles. Under the successive regimes of Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou, and currently Sean Dyche, Yates has frequently found himself categorized as a “squad player” rather than a guaranteed starter in the Premier League engine room.
These managers have all publicly valued his professionalism and his “immense passion,” yet when the big-money signings are fit, Yates often finds himself on the bench. However, his importance to the “soul” of the club remains undisputed. In a dressing room filled with international stars, Yates is the link to the club’s identity and the standards required to wear the Garibaldi red.
The European Stage: A Chance to Shine Against Braga
While Premier League starts have been hard to come by recently, the UEFA Europa League has become the Ryan Yates theater. As Forest prepare to face Braga tonight, the captain is expected to lead the team out in a fixture that could define their European campaign.
Forest are currently “tantalizingly close” to securing a place in the knockout stages of the competition. For Yates, these midweek European nights are more than just a chance for minutes; they are a platform to prove to Sean Dyche that his technical game has evolved to match his legendary work rate.
With a crucial Premier League clash against Brentford looming this Sunday, Dyche is widely expected to rotate his squad. This opens the door for Yates to reclaim his spot in the starting XI and provide the leadership needed to navigate a tricky continental tie.
Why the Dourekas Claim Matters Now
The timing of Dourekas’ comments is particularly poignant. As Forest continue to navigate the pressures of Premier League survival and European ambition, the “Yates Case” serves as a warning about the dangers of overlooking academy talent.
If those “managers of old” had succeeded in releasing Yates, Forest would have lost more than just a midfielder; they would have lost the only survivor of their Wembley glory and a captain who understands the weight of the shirt better than anyone.
The fact that Yates rose from the youth levels, survived multiple attempts to offload him, and eventually wore the captain’s armband in the Premier League is a testament to his mental fortitude. He didn’t just earn his spot through talent; he earned it through an “immense passion” that the boardroom recognized even when the coaches didn’t.
The Tactical Utility: More Than Just “Grit”
While Yates is often stereotyped as a “destroyer” or a “utility man,” his 258 appearances tell a different story. He has developed a knack for arriving late in the penalty area and remains one of the most effective aerial duelists in the squad.
Tonight against Braga, his ability to break up play and transition the ball quickly will be vital. Braga are a side that thrives on technical possession, and there is no player in the Forest squad better suited to disrupting a rhythm than Ryan Yates. If he can turn in a “Man of the Match” performance tonight, it will make it increasingly difficult for Sean Dyche to leave him out of the lineup for the trip to Brentford.
The Final Verdict: A Living Monument
Ryan Yates is no longer just a player; he is a living monument to Nottingham Forest’s resurgence. Dourekas’ revelation that the club once thought about letting him go only adds to the mythology of the player.
Whether he is starting in the Europa League or coming off the bench to close out a game in the Premier League, Yates remains the standard-bearer for the club. He has seen managers come and go, stars arrive and depart, and owners spend hundreds of millions. Through it all, the local boy from the academy remains. As Dourekas put it, they wanted to release him, but “we kept him.” It may well be the best decision the Forest hierarchy ever made.