I Am Called MUFC: The Superfan Who Fought to Change His Name
Ask any United fan who is older about the significance of that fateful day in May 1999, and they will tell you that the date left an indelible mark. 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 Camp Nou. It was also, the world of one loyal follower in Eastern Europe, who has died at the 62 years old, changed forever.
Aspirations Under Communism
This individual was originally called Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in his hometown, a place with a modest number of residents. Living in communist Bulgaria with a passion for football, he dreamed of adopting a new name to… the Red Devils. Yet, to claim the name of a sports team from the Western world was an unattainable goal. Had Marin tried to do so during the socialist era, he would likely have faced imprisonment.
A Promise Forged in Drama
A decade after the political changes in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's personal goal edged closer to reality. Watching the final from his humble abode in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin made a promise to himself: should his team mount a comeback, he would go to any lengths to change his name that of the team he adored. Then, the impossible happened.
Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.
Years of Judicial Challenges
A day later, Marin consulted an attorney to express his unusual request, thus beginning a long, hard battle. The parent who inspired him, from whom he had learned to support the club, was deceased, and the man in his thirties was living with his mother, taking on various types of work, including as a laborer on £15 a day. He was struggling financially, yet his dream became an obsession. He rapidly evolved into the local celebrity, then was featured globally, but 15 years full of judicial disputes and discouraging rulings lay ahead.
Trademark Issues and Limited Success
The application was rejected initially for copyright reasons: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a trademark known around the globe. Then a court official ruled partially in his favour, saying Marin could modify his forename 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 bear the identity of my beloved team,” Marin stated during proceedings. The battle persisted.
Companions in Adversity
When not in court, he was often tending to his pets. He had a large number in his garden in Svishtov and cherished them equally with the Manchester United. He named them all after club legends: from Rio to 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
Another victory was secured in court: he was permitted to include 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 supporters' goods 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 team's title was inviolable.
Aspirations Fulfilled and Final Acts
A documentary followed in 2011. The crew turned Marin’s dream of seeing the iconic stadium and there he even encountered the Bulgarian striker, the forward playing for United at the time.
Marin tattooed the team emblem on his forehead at a later date as a demonstration against the court decisions and in his final years it became increasingly hard for him to continue his legal battle. Employment was hard to find 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 religious institution under the name Manchester United Zdravkov Levidzhov. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my real name,” he often stated.
On a recent Monday, his time ran out. It is possible that Manchester United’s determined supporter could at last be at rest.
