**Mertens** Retirement Sparks New Chapter for Wife

**Kat Kerkhofs** Seizes Opportunity Beyond Football

**Dries Mertens**’s recent retirement from professional soccer at 38 marks not only a personal turning point but also a significant shift for his wife, **Kat Kerkhofs**, who is now poised to pursue her own ambitions outside of her husband’s shadow.

Pursuing Independent Goals

For years, **Kat Kerkhofs** has navigated life alongside **Dries Mertens**’s international soccer career. Now, with **Mertens** stepping away from the field after a successful run with Napoli and Galatasaray, **Kerkhofs** is ready to prioritize her own professional aspirations. She has often stated her desire to focus on her ambitions once her husband retired.

She has actively developed her media presence, hosting programs like “Kat Without Borders,” earning praise for her authenticity. Now, the absence of international relocation stress and her husband’s demanding sports schedule provides **Kerkhofs** with space to flourish independently.

Marktrock Festival: A Symbolic Restart

Instead of diving directly into a new TV project, **Kat Kerkhofs** is currently involved in a deeply personal endeavor. Alongside her sister, **Lyn**, she has revitalized the Marktrock music festival in Mechelen. In 2023, 37% of festival attendees were attending for the first time, showing the event’s renewed appeal (Statista). The festival serves as a tribute to their late father and also signifies a fresh start for **Kat**.