I Am Called Manchester United: The Superfan Who Fought to Change His Identity
Pose the question to any Manchester United fan of a certain age concerning the significance of May 26th, 1999, and the answer will be that the occasion left an indelible mark. It was the evening when dramatic late goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær secured an stunning 2-1 comeback in the showpiece event against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. It was also, the existence of one devoted supporter in Eastern Europe, who recently died at the 62 years old, took a new direction.
A Dream Born in Communist Bulgaria
That supporter was given the name Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in Svishtov, a place with a tight-knit community. Living in the former Eastern Bloc with a devotion to football, he dreamed of legally altering his identity to… Manchester United. However, to claim the name of a football club from the capitalist west was mission impossible. If he had attempted to do so before the fall of the regime, he would almost certainly have faced imprisonment.
A Promise Forged in Drama
Ten years after the end of communism in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's unique aspiration moved nearer to reality. Viewing the match from his simple residence in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin made a promise to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would spare no effort to legally adopt the name that of the team he adored. Then, the impossible happened.
Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.
Years of Judicial Challenges
A day later, Marin consulted an attorney to state his extraordinary desire, thus starting a grueling process. His dad, from whom he had learned to support the club, was deceased, and the 36-year-old was residing with his mom, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a laborer on £15 a day. He was barely getting by, yet his goal turned into a fixation. He soon became the subject of gossip, then was featured globally, but a decade and a half full of court cases and disheartening court decisions were to come.
Legal Obstacles and Small Wins
His request was denied early on for trademark concerns: he could not change his name of a world-famous brand. Then a local judge granted a limited approval, saying Marin could alter his given name to the city name but that he was prohibited from using the second part as his legal last name. “But I don’t want to be identified with an urban area in Britain, I want to bear the identity of my favourite football club,” Marin informed the judge. The struggle continued.
His Beloved Cats
When not in court, he was often caring for his feline friends. 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 team stars: from Rio to Rooney, they were the celebrity pets in town. The one he loved most of Man U? One named after David Beckham.
His attire consistently showed his allegiance.
Progress and Integrity
Another victory was secured in court: he was granted the right to append the club name as an official nickname on his personal papers. But he remained dissatisfied. “I will continue until my complete identity is Manchester United,” he declared. His story soon led to business offers – an offer to have club products branded with his legal name – but even with his monetary challenges, he rejected the opportunity because he refused to make money from his beloved team. The Manchester United name was beyond commercial use.
Goals Achieved and Enduring Symbols
His story was captured in that year. The production team made his aspiration come true of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even met his compatriot, the national team player playing for United at the time.
Marin tattooed the club badge on his face at a later date as a demonstration against the judicial outcomes and in his closing chapter it became increasingly hard for him to continue his legal battle. Employment was hard to find and he was bereaved to the pandemic. But somehow, he found a way. Originally of Catholic faith, he was christened in an religious institution under the name Manchester United Zdravkov Levidzhov. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my chosen name,” he would frequently remark.
On a recent Monday, his life came to an end. It is possible that the club's restless soul could achieve eternal tranquility.