My Name Is Man Utd: This Superfan Who Battled to Change His Legal Name
Ask any Manchester United devotee from an earlier generation regarding the significance of May 26th, 1999, and they'll recount that the occasion left an indelible mark. It was the evening when dramatic late goals from Sheringham and Solskjær completed an incredible late turnaround in the European Cup final against the German giants at the Camp Nou. It was also, the life of one loyal follower in Bulgaria, who has died at the 62 years old, was transformed.
Hopes in a Bygone Era
This individual was given the name Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in his hometown, a community with a tight-knit community. Growing up in a socialist state with a devotion to football, he aspired to changing his name to… the Red Devils. However, to adopt the name of a football club from the other side of the Iron Curtain was an unattainable goal. Any effort to do so during the socialist era, he would almost certainly have faced imprisonment.
A Vow Made Under Pressure
Ten years after the fall of the regime in Bulgaria – on that night in May 1999 – Marin's idiosyncratic dream came one step closer to achievement. Tuning in from home from his modest home in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin vowed to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would go to any lengths to legally adopt the name that of the object of his devotion. Then, against all odds, it transpired.
A lifelong wish to walk the halls of the famous stadium came true.
The Long Legal Battle
The following morning, Marin consulted an attorney to present his unique case, thus initiating a difficult fight. The parent who inspired him, from whom he had gained his fandom, was long gone, and the man in his thirties was residing with his mom, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a laborer on a meager daily wage. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his goal turned into a fixation. He rapidly evolved into the local celebrity, then gained worldwide attention, but 15 years full of legal battles and discouraging rulings awaited him.
Legal Obstacles and Small Wins
The application was rejected initially for intellectual property issues: he was barred from using the title of a trademark known around the globe. Then a local judge granted a limited approval, saying Marin could alter his given name to Manchester but that he was not to use United as his official surname. “Yet my aim is to be associated with just a place in England, I want to wear the name of my favourite football club,” Marin told the court. The struggle continued.
A Life with Feline Friends
During breaks from litigation, he was often tending to his pets. He had a large number in his garden in Svishtov and loved them as much as the Red Devils. He gave each one a name after United players: including Ferdinand and Rooney, they were the most famous cats in town. The one he loved most of his close friends' nickname for him? A kitty called Beckham.
His attire consistently showed his allegiance.
Breakthroughs and Principles
Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was granted the right to append United as an official nickname on his ID card. But he remained dissatisfied. “I will continue until my complete identity is as I desire,” he vowed. His story soon led to financial opportunities – a proposal to have supporters' goods produced under his new name – but although he was in need, he turned down the offer because he refused to make money from his beloved team. The Manchester United name was inviolable.
Aspirations Fulfilled and Final Acts
His story was captured in that year. The production team made his aspiration come true of seeing the iconic stadium and there he even had the chance to see his compatriot, the national team player then at the club at the time.
Marin tattooed the team emblem on his face three years later as a protest against the court decisions and in his final years it became more and more difficult for him to persist with his fight. Work was limited and he lost his mother to the virus. But somehow, he found a way. By birth a Catholic, he got baptised in an orthodox church under the name his desired full name. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my real name,” he used to say.
On a recent Monday, his heart stopped beating. Maybe at last the club's persistent fan could finally find peace.
