I Go By MUFC: This Superfan Who Battled to Alter His Legal Name
Pose the question to any Manchester United fan who is older concerning the importance of that fateful day in May 1999, and they will tell you that the date changed them forever. It was the night when injury-time goals from Sheringham and Solskjær completed an stunning come-from-behind victory in the European Cup final against Bayern Munich at the famous Barcelona stadium. It was also, the life of one devoted supporter in Bulgaria, who recently died at the 62 years old, changed forever.
A Dream Born in Communist Bulgaria
That supporter was originally called Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in his hometown, a settlement with a modest number of residents. Growing up in the former Eastern Bloc with a passion for football, he longed to legally altering his identity to… Manchester United. Yet, to take the name of a sports team from the other side of the Iron Curtain was a futile endeavor. Had Marin tried to do so before the fall of the regime, he would undoubtedly have faced imprisonment.
A Vow Made Under Pressure
Ten years after the political changes in Bulgaria – on that night in May 1999 – Marin's unique aspiration edged closer to reality. Watching the final from his humble abode in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin vowed to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would do anything to become known as that of the club he loved. 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 consulted an attorney to state his extraordinary desire, thus initiating a difficult fight. His dad, from whom he had inherited his love of United, was deceased, and the man in his thirties was living with his mother, employed in miscellaneous roles, including as a construction worker on a meager daily wage. He was struggling financially, yet his goal turned into a fixation. He soon became the local celebrity, then was featured globally, but many seasons full of judicial disputes and disheartening court decisions awaited him.
Trademark Issues and Limited Success
His request was rejected initially for intellectual property issues: he was barred from using the title of a world-famous brand. Then a court official granted a limited approval, saying Marin could modify his forename to the city name but that he was not to use United as his legal last name. “But I don’t want to be associated with just a place in Britain, I want to carry the title of my cherished club,” Marin stated during proceedings. The battle persisted.
A Life with Feline Friends
Outside of legal proceedings, he was often looking after his cats. He had a large number in his back yard in Svishtov and loved them as much as the his team. He christened them after team stars: from Rio to Rooney, they were the best-known felines in town. The one he loved most of the name they used? One named after David Beckham.
His attire consistently showed his allegiance.
Progress and Integrity
He achieved a further success in court: he was allowed to add the club name as an legal alternative on his ID card. But he remained dissatisfied. “I will continue until my entire name is as I desire,” he promised. His narrative resulted in business offers – an offer to have club products produced under his new name – but even with his monetary challenges, he declined the proposal because he did not want to profit from his adored institution. The club's identity was inviolable.
Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes
A documentary followed in 2011. The crew turned Marin’s dream of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even met Dimitar Berbatov, the forward playing for United at the time.
He inked the club badge on his face subsequently as a protest against the judicial outcomes and in his closing chapter it became more and more difficult for him to persist with his fight. Job opportunities were scarce and he lost his mother to the virus. But he managed to continue. By birth a Catholic, he underwent baptism in an religious institution under the name his desired full name. “At least God will know me with my true identity,” he often stated.
This Monday, 13 October, his time ran out. It is possible that Manchester United’s persistent fan could achieve eternal tranquility.
