Meet Wilfred Ndidi’s Parents: Theo van Vlierden and Marleen van Vlierden

Theo van Vlierden and Marleen van Vlierden are the Belgian couple who opened their home to Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi when he moved to K.R.C. Genk as a teenager.

Their decision to foster him while he adjusted to life and football in Europe is regularly credited as a major factor in his early development.

Quick facts

• Names: Theo van Vlierden (husband) and Marleen van Vlierden (wife).
• Nationality: Belgian.
• Role: Foster / host family to Wilfred Ndidi on his arrival at Genk (mid-2010s).

Early background

Theo and Marleen Van Vlierden are the Belgian couple that adopted Wilfred Ndidi.

It is known that, when Genk asked for a local family to house the young Nigerian recruit, the van Vlierdens agreed to host him — giving Ndidi a stable home while he trained and settled into a new country.

How they met Wilfred Ndidi

When Wilfred Ndidi went to Belgium for trials and eventual signing with K.R.C. Genk, the club arranged short-term accommodation.

Theo and Marleen stepped in as the family Genk placed him with, taking him into their household so he would have a family environment rather than living alone in hotels or apartments.

Ndidi himself has publicly acknowledged how critical that support was during his initial period in Europe.

Their role in Ndidi’s development

Reports and interviews credit the van Vlierdens with helping Ndidi adapt to everyday life in Belgium — language, schooling routines, and the simple stability of a family home, which allowed him to focus on training and football.

Ndidi noted that living with a Belgian family removed daily stresses and accelerated his cultural and footballing adjustment.

Public comments and recognition

Ndidi has publicly thanked the Belgian family for making him feel at home, saying that their support was important at a difficult time of transition from Nigeria to European professional football.

Journalists and feature pieces on Ndidi’s rise often single out Theo and Marleen as quietly influential figures behind his early progress.

Personal life

The van Vlierdens are a private Belgian couple who provided foster-style hospitality rather than seeking public attention.

Wilfred lived together with their son Christopher (or Christophe) while at Genk.

Legacy and impact

The van Vlierdens’ choice to host a teenage Ndidi is an example of how European clubs and local families can play a decisive role in a young player’s transition to professional life.

For Ndidi, who rose from Lagos street football to the Belgian league and then the Premier League — that early household stability is framed as a foundational chapter in his journey.