My Name Is Manchester United: The Superfan Who Struggled to Alter His Name
Inquire of any Man United supporter of a certain age regarding the meaning of 26 May 1999, and they'll recount that the occasion was life-altering. It was the night when last-minute strikes from Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær sealed an unbelievable come-from-behind victory in the showpiece event against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. It was also, the world of one loyal follower in Bulgaria, who passed away at the age of 62, took a new direction.
Hopes in a Bygone Era
The fan in question was given the name Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in his hometown, a settlement with a population of 22,000. Living in a socialist state with a love of football, he aspired to legally altering his identity to… the Red Devils. But, to take the name of a football club from the other side of the Iron Curtain was an unattainable goal. Had Marin tried to do so before the fall of the regime, he would almost certainly have been arrested.
A Vow Made Under Pressure
A decade after the end of communism in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's personal goal came one step closer to fulfillment. Watching the final from his simple residence in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin made a promise to himself: if United somehow turned the game around, he would spare no effort to legally adopt the name that of the team he adored. Then, against all odds, it transpired.
He realized his ambition to see the Theatre of Dreams.
Years of Judicial Challenges
The following morning, Marin consulted an attorney to present his unique case, thus starting a grueling process. The parent who inspired him, from whom he had inherited his love of United, was long gone, and the man in his thirties was caring for his parent, taking on various types of work, including as a builder on £15 a day. He was barely getting by, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He rapidly evolved into the subject of gossip, then became an international sensation, but a decade and a half full of legal battles and discouraging rulings lay ahead.
Legal Obstacles and Small Wins
His request was rejected initially for copyright reasons: he was barred from using the title of a world-famous brand. Then a presiding magistrate ruled partially in his favour, saying Marin could alter his given name to the city name but that he was prohibited from using United as his legal last name. “Yet my aim is to be associated with just a place in England, I want to carry the title of my cherished club,” Marin stated during proceedings. The battle persisted.
His Beloved Cats
When not in court, he was often looking after his cats. He had plenty of them in his outdoor space in Svishtov and cherished them equally with the Manchester United. He gave each one a name after United players: including Ferdinand and Rooney, they were the celebrity pets in town. The one he loved most of Man U? A kitty called Beckham.
His attire consistently showed his allegiance.
Advances and Ethics
He achieved a further success in court: he was allowed to add United as an recognized alias on his personal papers. But this did not satisfy him. “I won’t stop until my full name is the club's title,” he declared. His narrative resulted in financial opportunities – an offer to have club products produced under his new name – but despite his financial struggles, he declined the proposal because he was unwilling to gain financially from his adored institution. The team's title was inviolable.
Aspirations Fulfilled and Final Acts
His story was captured in 2011. The filmmakers fulfilled his wish of visiting Old Trafford and there he even met his compatriot, the forward on the team's roster at the time.
Permanently marked the team emblem on his brow at a later date as a protest against the judicial outcomes and in his last few years it became ever tougher for him to continue his legal battle. Employment was hard to find and he was bereaved to the virus. But he managed to continue. By birth a Catholic, he was christened in an Eastern Orthodox church under the name Manchester United Zdravkov Levidzhov. “In the eyes of the divine, I am with my chosen name,” he often stated.
On a recent Monday, his life came to an end. Maybe at last Manchester United’s restless soul could finally find peace.
