My Name Is MUFC: The Die-Hard Supporter Who Battled to Change His Name
Ask any Man United fan of a certain age regarding the importance of that fateful day in May 1999, and they will tell you that the date left an indelible mark. It was the moment when last-minute strikes from Sheringham and Solskjær completed an stunning late turnaround in the European Cup final against Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou. Simultaneously, the life of one United fan in Eastern Europe, who recently died at the age of 62, changed forever.
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. Being raised in the former Eastern Bloc with a devotion to football, he longed to adopting a new name to… his beloved club. However, to claim the name of a organization from the capitalist west was an unattainable goal. Had Marin tried to do so prior to the end of communism, he would undoubtedly have been arrested.
A Commitment Sealed by Fate
Many seasons after the fall of the regime in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's unique aspiration came one step closer to fulfillment. Watching the final from his simple residence in Svishtov and with his team losing, Marin vowed 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, the impossible happened.
Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.
Years of Judicial Challenges
The next day, Marin sought legal counsel to express his unusual request, thus starting a grueling process. Marin’s father, from whom he had gained his fandom, was deceased, and the man in his thirties was residing with his mom, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a construction worker on minimal earnings. He was struggling financially, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He rapidly evolved into the talk of the town, then became an international sensation, but a decade and a half full of court cases and setbacks in litigation were to come.
Legal Obstacles and Small Wins
The application was turned down at first for trademark concerns: he could not change his name of a internationally recognized entity. Then a presiding magistrate granted a limited approval, saying Marin could modify his forename to Manchester but that he was could not adopt the second part as his family name. “However, I desire to be associated with just a place in Britain, I want to wear the name of my beloved team,” Marin told the court. The battle persisted.
Companions in Adversity
When not in court, he was often tending to his pets. He had plenty of them in his back yard in Svishtov and loved them as much as the Manchester United. He christened them after team stars: such as Vidic and others, they were the best-known felines in town. The one he loved most of Man U? The feline known as Beckham.
Marin bedecked in United gear.
Breakthroughs and Principles
Another victory was secured in court: he was permitted to include the club name as an legal alternative on his identification document. But this did not satisfy him. “My efforts will persist until my full name is Manchester United,” he declared. His narrative resulted in commercial propositions – a proposal to have club products branded with his legal name – but although he was in need, he rejected the opportunity because he refused to make money from his favourite club. The Manchester United name was sacred to him.
Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes
His story was captured in 2011. The production team turned Marin’s dream of seeing the iconic stadium and there he even met Dimitar Berbatov, the forward on the team's roster at the time.
He inked the team emblem on his forehead at a later date as a protest against the court decisions and in his closing chapter it became increasingly hard for him to keep up the struggle. Job opportunities were scarce and he was bereaved to Covid-19. But against the odds, he persevered. Born as a Catholic, he was christened in an religious institution under the name his desired full name. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my real name,” he often stated.
Earlier this week, his heart stopped beating. Perhaps now Manchester United’s determined supporter could finally find peace.
