I Go By MUFC: This Die-Hard Supporter Who Fought to Alter His Name

Inquire of any United devotee of a certain age regarding the importance of 26 May 1999, and they'll recount that the night changed them forever. It was the night when injury-time goals from Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær completed an unbelievable 2-1 comeback in the showpiece event against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. That same night, the existence of one loyal follower in Bulgaria, who passed away at the 62 years old, was transformed.

Hopes in a Bygone Era

The fan in question was born Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in a small Danube town, a community with a tight-knit community. Being raised in the former Eastern Bloc with a passion for football, he aspired to legally altering his identity to… the Red Devils. However, to claim the name of a football club from the Western world was a futile endeavor. Any effort to do so during the socialist era, he would undoubtedly have been arrested.

A Commitment Sealed by Fate

Ten years after the end of communism in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's unique aspiration moved nearer to achievement. Watching the final from his simple residence in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin made a promise to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would spare no effort to change his name that of the team he adored. Then, a miracle occurred.

Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.

A Protracted Court Struggle

The following morning, Marin consulted an attorney to present his unique case, thus beginning a long, hard battle. His dad, from whom he had inherited his love of United, was long gone, and the 36-year-old was living with his mother, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a laborer on minimal earnings. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his dream became an obsession. He quickly turned into the talk of the town, then gained worldwide attention, but many seasons full of legal battles and discouraging rulings awaited him.

Trademark Issues and Limited Success

His request was denied early on for intellectual property issues: he could not change his name of a world-famous brand. Then a court official granted a limited approval, saying Marin could modify his forename to Manchester but that he was not to use United as his family name. “But I don’t want to be named after a city in Britain, I want to carry the title of my favourite football club,” Marin told the court. The struggle continued.

Companions in Adversity

When not in court, he was often looking after his cats. He had many animals in his back yard in Svishtov and cherished them equally with the Red Devils. He christened them after team stars: from Rio to Rooney, they were the celebrity pets in town. The one he loved most of the name they used? One named after David Beckham.

Marin bedecked in United gear.

Advances and Ethics

Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was permitted to include the club name as an recognized alias on his personal papers. But this did not satisfy him. “I won’t stop until my complete identity is Manchester United,” he declared. His narrative resulted in financial opportunities – a proposal to have club products produced under his new name – but even with his monetary challenges, he turned down the offer because he did not want to profit 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 turned Marin’s dream of seeing the iconic stadium and there he even encountered his compatriot, the Bulgaria striker playing for United at the time.

Permanently marked the United crest on his brow at a later date as a protest against the court decisions and in his closing chapter it became ever tougher for him to keep up the struggle. Work was limited and he lost his mother to the pandemic. But somehow, he found a way. By birth a Catholic, he was christened in an religious institution under the name Manchester United Zdravkov Levidzhov. “At least God will know me with my real name,” he often stated.

Earlier this week, his heart stopped beating. Maybe at last Manchester United’s restless soul could finally find peace.