My Name Is MUFC: This Superfan Who Battled to Change His Legal Name
Pose the question to any Man United supporter of a certain age about the meaning of 26 May 1999, and the answer will be that the date left an indelible mark. It was the evening when injury-time goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær sealed an incredible 2-1 comeback in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou. Simultaneously, the life of one United fan in Bulgaria, who recently died at the 62 years old, took a new direction.
A Dream Born in Communist Bulgaria
The fan in question was born Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in Svishtov, a place with a tight-knit community. Growing up in a socialist state with a love of football, he dreamed of changing his name to… Manchester United. Yet, to take the name of a sports team from the capitalist west was an unattainable goal. If he had attempted to do so prior to the end of communism, he would almost certainly have ended up in jail.
A Vow Made Under Pressure
Ten years after the end of communism in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's personal goal moved nearer to fulfillment. Viewing the match from his humble abode in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin made a promise 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.
Years of Judicial Challenges
The following morning, Marin sought legal counsel to express his unusual request, thus initiating a difficult fight. His dad, from whom he had learned to support the club, was deceased, and the man in his thirties was residing with his mom, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a builder on a meager daily wage. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his dream became an obsession. He rapidly evolved into the local celebrity, then was featured globally, but a decade and a half full of legal battles and disheartening court decisions lay ahead.
Legal Obstacles and Small Wins
Marin’s wish was turned down at first for copyright reasons: he was barred from using the title of a internationally recognized entity. Then a court official granted a limited approval, saying Marin could modify his forename to the city name but that he was could not adopt the second part as his family name. “But I don’t want to be associated with just a place in the UK, I want to wear the name of my beloved team,” Marin told the court. The struggle continued.
His Beloved Cats
During breaks from litigation, he was often looking after his cats. He had plenty of them in his outdoor space in Svishtov and held them in the same esteem as the Red Devils. 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 the name they used? A kitty called Beckham.
His attire consistently showed his allegiance.
Breakthroughs and Principles
Another victory was secured in court: he was allowed to add United as an recognized alias on his ID card. But still he wasn’t happy. “My efforts will persist until my complete identity is the club's title,” he declared. His story soon led to commercial propositions – a chance to have supporters' goods branded with his legal name – but despite his financial struggles, he declined the proposal because he refused to make money from his favourite club. The team's title was inviolable.
Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes
A documentary followed in that year. The production team turned Marin’s dream of seeing the iconic stadium and there he even had the chance to see Dimitar Berbatov, the national team player playing for United at the time.
Permanently marked the team emblem on his face subsequently as a demonstration against the court decisions and in his last few years it became ever tougher for him to keep up the struggle. Job opportunities were scarce and he suffered the death of his mother to Covid-19. But against the odds, he persevered. Originally of Catholic faith, he was christened in an orthodox church under the name the identity he sought. “In the eyes of the divine, I am with my chosen name,” he used to say.
On a recent Monday, his life came to an end. It is possible that the club's persistent fan could finally find peace.
