I Am Called Manchester United: The Superfan Who Fought to Alter His Identity
Inquire of any Manchester United fan of a certain age concerning the significance of that fateful day in May 1999, and they will tell you that the occasion was life-altering. It was the night when dramatic late goals from Sheringham and Solskjær completed an incredible 2-1 comeback in the showpiece event against Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou. Simultaneously, 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
This individual was born Marin Levidzhov in his hometown, a settlement with a modest number of residents. Growing up in the former Eastern Bloc with a love of football, he longed to legally altering his identity to… the Red Devils. But, to claim the name of a football club from the other side of the Iron Curtain was mission impossible. Any effort to do so before the fall of the regime, he would undoubtedly have been arrested.
A Promise Forged in Drama
Ten years after the end of communism in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's idiosyncratic dream came one step closer to achievement. Watching the final from his humble abode 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, a miracle occurred.
He realized his ambition to see the Theatre of Dreams.
A Protracted Court Struggle
The next day, Marin sought legal counsel to present his unique case, thus initiating a difficult fight. His dad, from whom he had inherited his love of United, was no longer alive, and the 36-year-old was caring for his parent, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a builder on a meager daily wage. He was struggling financially, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He quickly turned into the local celebrity, then became an international sensation, but a decade and a half full of court cases and disheartening court decisions were to come.
Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories
The application was denied early on 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 change his first name to Manchester but that he was prohibited from using the second part as his legal last name. “But I don’t want to be named after a city in Britain, I want to carry the title of my cherished club,” Marin told the court. The battle persisted.
A Life with Feline Friends
When not in court, he was often tending to his pets. He had a large number in his garden in Svishtov and held them in the same esteem as the his team. He named them all after team stars: including Ferdinand and Rooney, they were the most famous cats in town. Who was his preferred pet of Man U? A kitty called Beckham.
Marin bedecked in United gear.
Advances and Ethics
Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was allowed to add United as an recognized alias on his ID card. But still he wasn’t happy. “I won’t stop until my entire name is Manchester United,” he vowed. His story soon led to business offers – a proposal to have fan merchandise produced under his new name – but even with his monetary challenges, he turned down the offer because he refused to make money from his favourite club. The Manchester United name was sacred to him.
Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes
A documentary followed in 2011. The production team turned Marin’s dream of visiting Old Trafford and there he even met Dimitar Berbatov, the forward playing for United at the time.
He inked the club badge on his forehead at a later date as a protest against the court decisions and in his final years it became ever tougher for him to keep up the struggle. Work was limited and he suffered the death of his mother to the pandemic. But against the odds, he persevered. Originally of Catholic faith, he got baptised in an religious institution under the name his desired full name. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my true identity,” he often stated.
On a recent Monday, his life came to an end. It is possible that the club's restless soul could achieve eternal tranquility.
