I Am Called Man Utd: The Superfan Who Fought to Change His Name
Pose the question to any United devotee from an earlier generation concerning the significance of 26 May 1999, and the answer will be that the occasion changed them forever. It was the night when injury-time goals from Teddy Sheringham and Solskjær completed an unbelievable come-from-behind victory in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou. That same night, the existence of one devoted supporter in Eastern Europe, who passed away at the age of 62, took a new direction.
Hopes in a Bygone Era
That supporter was originally called Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in a small Danube town, a settlement with a population of 22,000. Living in the former Eastern Bloc with a love of football, he dreamed of changing his name to… his beloved club. But, to claim the name of a football club from the Western world was a futile endeavor. If he had attempted to do so during the socialist era, he would almost certainly have been arrested.
A Promise Forged in Drama
Many seasons after the fall of the regime in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's personal goal edged closer to reality. Watching the final from his simple residence in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin vowed to himself: should his team mount a comeback, he would spare no effort to become known as that of the team he adored. Then, a miracle occurred.
A lifelong wish to walk the halls of the famous stadium came true.
A Protracted Court Struggle
The next day, Marin visited a lawyer to state his extraordinary desire, thus starting a grueling process. His dad, from whom he had gained his fandom, was long gone, and the 36-year-old was caring for his parent, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a construction worker on £15 a day. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He soon became the talk of the town, then became an international sensation, but many seasons full of court cases and discouraging rulings were to come.
Legal Obstacles and Small Wins
The application was denied early on for intellectual property issues: he was barred from using the title of a world-famous brand. Then a court official ruled partially in his favour, saying Marin could modify his forename to Manchester but that he was not to use the second part as his family name. “But I don’t want to be named after a city in England, I want to carry the title of my favourite football club,” Marin stated during proceedings. The battle persisted.
His Beloved Cats
During breaks from litigation, he was often tending to his pets. He had many animals in his outdoor space in Svishtov and cherished them equally with the Red Devils. He gave each one a name after United players: such as Vidic and others, they were the most famous cats in town. The one he loved most of the name they used? One named after David Beckham.
Marin bedecked in United gear.
Progress and Integrity
Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was allowed to add United as an recognized alias on his personal papers. But this did not satisfy him. “My efforts will persist until my full name is the club's title,” he promised. His story soon led to commercial propositions – a chance to have fan merchandise made using his identity – but even with his monetary challenges, he turned down the offer because he refused to make money from his adored institution. The Manchester United name was sacred to him.
Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes
A film was made in 2011. The filmmakers fulfilled his wish of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even met the Bulgarian striker, the forward then at the club at the time.
Marin tattooed the club badge on his face subsequently as a demonstration against the judicial outcomes and in his final years it became ever tougher for him to persist with his fight. Employment was hard to find and he was bereaved to the virus. But somehow, he found a way. Born as a Catholic, he underwent baptism in an religious institution under the name the identity he sought. “In the eyes of the divine, I am with my real name,” he often stated.
Earlier this week, his time ran out. Perhaps now Manchester United’s restless soul could achieve eternal tranquility.
