My Name Is MUFC: This Superfan Who Battled to Change His Name
Inquire of any Manchester United supporter from an earlier generation regarding the significance of May 26th, 1999, and they will tell you that the night left an indelible mark. It was the night when injury-time goals from Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær completed an incredible 2-1 comeback in the European Cup final against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. It was also, the life of one devoted supporter in Bulgaria, who has died at the 62 years old, took a new direction.
Aspirations Under Communism
This individual was born Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in a small Danube town, a place with a modest number of residents. Growing up in the former Eastern Bloc with a love of football, he dreamed of legally altering his identity to… the Red Devils. But, to adopt the name of a organization from the capitalist west was an unattainable goal. Had Marin tried to do so before the fall of the regime, he would almost certainly have ended up in jail.
A Vow Made Under Pressure
Many seasons after the political changes in Bulgaria – on that night in May 1999 – Marin's unique aspiration came one step closer to fulfillment. Viewing the match from his humble abode in Svishtov and with his team losing, Marin made a promise to himself: if United somehow turned the game around, he would go to any lengths to change his name that of the club he loved. Then, a miracle occurred.
Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.
A Protracted Court Struggle
The next day, Marin visited a lawyer to express his unusual request, thus initiating a difficult fight. Marin’s father, from whom he had learned to support the club, was no longer alive, and the man in his thirties was residing with his mom, employed in miscellaneous roles, including as a laborer on £15 a day. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his dream became an obsession. He rapidly evolved into the subject of gossip, then became an international sensation, but 15 years full of court cases and discouraging rulings were to come.
Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories
Marin’s wish was denied early on for copyright reasons: he was barred from using the title of a trademark known around the globe. Then a court official ruled partially in his favour, saying Marin could modify his forename to the city name but that he was could not adopt the second part as his official surname. “Yet my aim is to be identified with an urban area in the UK, I want to carry the title of my cherished club,” Marin informed the judge. The battle persisted.
His Beloved Cats
Outside of legal proceedings, he was often caring for his feline friends. He had plenty of them in his back yard in Svishtov and loved them as much as the Red Devils. He gave each one a name after club legends: including Ferdinand and Rooney, they were the celebrity pets in town. The one he loved most of his close friends' nickname for him? One named after David Beckham.
His attire consistently showed his allegiance.
Advances and Ethics
Another victory was secured in court: he was granted the right to append United as an official nickname on his personal papers. But he remained dissatisfied. “My efforts will persist until my entire name is the club's title,” he vowed. His narrative resulted in financial opportunities – a chance to have club products branded with his legal name – but although he was in need, he declined the proposal because he refused to make money from his adored institution. The Manchester United name was inviolable.
Aspirations Fulfilled and Final Acts
A documentary followed in 2011. The filmmakers made his aspiration come true of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even met his compatriot, the forward playing for United at the time.
Permanently marked the team emblem on his face at a later date as a demonstration against the legal rulings and in his last few years it became ever tougher for him to continue his legal battle. Job opportunities were scarce and he suffered the death of his mother to Covid-19. But somehow, he found a way. By birth a Catholic, he was christened in an Eastern Orthodox church under the name the identity he sought. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my chosen name,” he often stated.
Earlier this week, his heart stopped beating. It is possible that the club's determined supporter could finally find peace.
