I Am Called MUFC: This Superfan Who Fought to Change His Legal Name
Pose the question to any Man United fan who is older concerning the meaning of May 26th, 1999, and the answer will be that the night was life-altering. It was the moment when last-minute strikes from Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær secured an incredible late turnaround in the European Cup final against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. It was also, the existence of one loyal follower in Bulgaria, who passed away at the age of 62, changed forever.
Aspirations Under Communism
The fan in question was given the name Marin Levidzhov in a small Danube town, a settlement with a tight-knit community. Growing up in the former Eastern Bloc with a love of football, he aspired to adopting a new name to… his beloved club. But, to adopt the name of a football club from the other side of the Iron Curtain was an unattainable goal. Had Marin tried to do so prior to the end of communism, he would undoubtedly have ended up in jail.
A Vow Made Under Pressure
Ten years after the end of communism in Bulgaria – on that night in May 1999 – Marin's unique aspiration moved nearer to fulfillment. Viewing the match from his modest home in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin swore an oath to himself: should his team mount a comeback, he would spare no effort to become known as that of the object of his devotion. Then, the impossible happened.
He realized his ambition to see the Theatre of Dreams.
Years of Judicial Challenges
The next day, Marin consulted an attorney to present his unique case, thus initiating a difficult fight. Marin’s father, from whom he had inherited his love of United, was deceased, and the man in his thirties was living with his mother, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a laborer on £15 a day. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He soon became the talk of the town, then gained worldwide attention, but a decade and a half full of judicial disputes and discouraging rulings awaited him.
Trademark Issues and Limited Success
Marin’s wish was rejected initially for trademark concerns: he was barred from using the title of a trademark known around the globe. Then a court official ruled partially in his favour, saying Marin could alter his given name to Manchester but that he was could not adopt United as his legal last name. “But I don’t want to be associated with just a place in the UK, I want to wear the name of my cherished club,” Marin stated during proceedings. The struggle continued.
His Beloved Cats
When not in court, he was often caring for his feline friends. He had a large number in his back yard in Svishtov and held them in the same esteem as the his team. He named them all after United players: including Ferdinand and Rooney, they were the most famous cats in town. Who was his preferred pet of the name they used? A kitty called Beckham.
He was often seen in full club regalia.
Progress and Integrity
Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was granted the right to append the club name as an legal alternative on his ID card. But this did not satisfy him. “I won’t stop until my complete identity is Manchester United,” he declared. His story soon led to commercial propositions – a proposal to have club products produced under his new name – but although he was in need, he rejected the opportunity because he was unwilling to gain financially from his favourite club. The club's identity was inviolable.
Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes
A film was made in that year. The filmmakers fulfilled his wish of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even encountered his compatriot, the forward playing for United at the time.
Permanently marked the team emblem on his face 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. Job opportunities were scarce and he was bereaved to the pandemic. But somehow, he found a way. By birth a Catholic, he underwent baptism in an orthodox church under the name Manchester United Zdravkov Levidzhov. “In the eyes of the divine, I am with my chosen name,” he often stated.
This Monday, 13 October, his heart stopped beating. It is possible that the club's restless soul could at last be at rest.
