My Name Is Manchester United: This Superfan Who Fought to Change His Name
Inquire of any Manchester United supporter who is older concerning the meaning of May 26th, 1999, and they'll recount that the occasion left an indelible mark. It was the night when last-minute strikes from Teddy Sheringham and Solskjær secured an unbelievable come-from-behind victory in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich at the famous Barcelona stadium. It was also, the world of one United fan in Eastern Europe, who has died at the 62 years old, was transformed.
Aspirations Under Communism
That supporter was born Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in Svishtov, a community with a modest number of residents. Growing up in the former Eastern Bloc with a devotion to football, he aspired to legally altering his identity to… his beloved club. But, to claim the name of a football club from the Western world was an unattainable goal. If he had attempted to do so prior to the end of communism, he would likely have been arrested.
A Vow Made Under Pressure
A decade after the political changes in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's idiosyncratic dream edged closer to achievement. Tuning in from home from his humble abode in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin vowed to himself: should his team mount a comeback, he would do anything to become known as that of the object of his devotion. Then, a miracle occurred.
Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.
A Protracted Court Struggle
The following morning, Marin sought legal counsel to state his extraordinary desire, thus beginning a long, hard battle. Marin’s father, from whom he had learned to support the club, was deceased, and the man in his thirties was caring for his parent, employed in miscellaneous roles, including as a construction worker on a meager daily wage. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He soon became the subject of gossip, then was featured globally, but 15 years full of court cases and discouraging rulings were to come.
Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories
His request was denied early on for trademark concerns: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a world-famous brand. Then a court official granted a limited approval, saying Marin could change his first name to Manchester but that he was could not adopt United as his legal last name. “Yet my aim is to be named after a city in England, I want to bear the identity of my favourite football club,” Marin stated during proceedings. The struggle continued.
Companions in Adversity
When not in court, he was often caring for his feline friends. He had a large number in his outdoor space in Svishtov and held them in the same esteem as the Manchester United. He gave each one a name after team stars: including Ferdinand and Rooney, they were the most famous cats in town. Who was his preferred pet of Man U? One named after David Beckham.
Marin bedecked in United gear.
Advances and Ethics
Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was permitted to include the club name as an recognized alias on his ID card. But this did not satisfy him. “My efforts will persist until my entire name is the club's title,” he promised. His story soon led to business offers – a chance to have club products made using his identity – but although he was in need, he turned down the offer because he refused to make money from his beloved team. The team's title was sacred to him.
Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes
His story was captured in 2011. The crew fulfilled his wish of seeing the iconic stadium and there he even met the Bulgarian striker, the forward playing for United at the time.
He inked the team emblem on his forehead at a later date as a objection to the legal rulings and in his closing chapter it became ever tougher for him to keep up the struggle. Job opportunities were scarce and he lost his mother to the pandemic. But somehow, he found a way. By birth a Catholic, he underwent baptism in an religious institution under the name the identity he sought. “At least God will know me with my chosen name,” he used to say.
This Monday, 13 October, his heart stopped beating. Maybe at last Manchester United’s determined supporter could achieve eternal tranquility.