I Am Called Man Utd: This Superfan Who Battled to Alter His Legal Name
Inquire of any United supporter of a certain age concerning the significance of 26 May 1999, and the answer will be that the night changed them forever. It was the night when injury-time goals from Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær secured an incredible late turnaround in the European Cup final against the German giants at the Camp Nou. Simultaneously, the life of one devoted supporter in Eastern Europe, who has died at the age of 62, took a new direction.
Aspirations Under Communism
That supporter was born Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in a small Danube town, a place with a population of 22,000. Living in a socialist state with a devotion to football, he longed to legally altering his identity to… Manchester United. Yet, to adopt the name of a sports team from the capitalist west was an unattainable goal. If he had attempted to do so before the fall of the regime, he would almost certainly have ended up in jail.
A Vow Made Under Pressure
Many seasons after the political changes in Bulgaria – on that night in May 1999 – Marin's unique aspiration moved nearer to reality. Viewing the match from his humble abode in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin vowed to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would do anything to change his name that of the team he adored. Then, the impossible happened.
He realized his ambition to see the Theatre of Dreams.
The Long Legal Battle
The following morning, Marin consulted an attorney to present his unique case, thus starting a grueling process. His dad, from whom he had inherited his love of United, was long gone, and the man in his thirties was caring for his parent, employed in miscellaneous roles, including as a construction worker on £15 a day. He was barely getting by, yet his dream became an obsession. He quickly turned into the talk of the town, then gained worldwide attention, but 15 years full of court cases and setbacks in litigation lay ahead.
Legal Obstacles and Small Wins
The application was denied early on for intellectual property issues: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a internationally recognized entity. Then a presiding magistrate granted a limited approval, saying Marin could change his first name to Manchester but that he was not to use the second part as his legal last name. “Yet my aim is to be associated with just a place in the UK, I want to carry the title of my beloved team,” Marin stated during proceedings. The battle persisted.
A Life with Feline Friends
Outside of legal proceedings, he was often caring for his feline friends. He had a large number in his back yard in Svishtov and loved them as much as the his team. He named them all after team stars: including Ferdinand and Rooney, they were the celebrity pets in town. The one he loved most of Man U? The feline known as 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 official nickname on his ID card. But he remained dissatisfied. “I won’t stop until my entire name is Manchester United,” he vowed. His tale attracted commercial propositions – a proposal to have club products branded with his legal name – but although he was in need, he turned down the offer because he did not want to profit from his adored institution. The club's identity was beyond commercial use.
Aspirations Fulfilled and Final Acts
A film was made in 2011. The production team made his aspiration come true of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even encountered the Bulgarian striker, the national team player then at the club at the time.
Marin tattooed the club badge on his face at a later date as a objection to the court decisions and in his closing chapter it became more and more difficult for him to persist with his fight. Employment was hard to find and he lost his mother to Covid-19. But somehow, he found a way. Born as a Catholic, he underwent baptism in an religious institution under the name Manchester United Zdravkov Levidzhov. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my true identity,” he often stated.
Earlier this week, his heart stopped beating. It is possible that the club's determined supporter could at last be at rest.
