I Go By MUFC: The Superfan Who Fought to Change His Identity
Inquire of any Manchester United supporter who is older about the significance of May 26th, 1999, and the answer will be that the night left an indelible mark. It was the moment when injury-time goals from Teddy Sheringham and Solskjær completed an unbelievable late turnaround in the showpiece event against Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou. It was also, the life of one devoted supporter in Bulgaria, who has died at the 62 years old, was transformed.
Aspirations Under Communism
That supporter was given the name Marin Levidzhov in his hometown, a place with a population of 22,000. Growing up in the former Eastern Bloc with a devotion to football, he longed to legally altering his identity to… the Red Devils. Yet, to take the name of a organization from the capitalist west was an unattainable goal. Had Marin tried to do so during the socialist era, he would likely have faced imprisonment.
A Vow Made Under Pressure
Ten years after the fall of the regime in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's idiosyncratic dream moved nearer to achievement. Watching the final from his modest home in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin made a promise to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would spare no effort to legally adopt the name that of the club he loved. Then, the impossible happened.
He realized his ambition to see the Theatre of Dreams.
A Protracted Court Struggle
A day later, Marin consulted an attorney to express his unusual request, thus initiating a difficult fight. His dad, from whom he had gained his fandom, was long gone, and the man in his thirties was caring for his parent, taking on various types of work, including as a construction worker on £15 a day. He was struggling financially, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He rapidly evolved into the local celebrity, 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 rejected initially for trademark concerns: he could not change his name of a trademark known around the globe. Then a court official ruled partially in his favour, saying Marin could change his first name to the city name but that he was prohibited from using United as his legal last name. “Yet my aim is to be associated with just a place in England, I want to carry the title of my cherished club,” Marin stated during proceedings. The battle persisted.
His Beloved Cats
Outside of legal proceedings, he was often caring for his feline friends. He had many animals in his outdoor space in Svishtov and held them in the same esteem as the Red Devils. He named them all after team stars: from Rio to Rooney, they were the celebrity pets in town. Who was his preferred pet of his close friends' nickname for him? A kitty called Beckham.
He was often seen in full club regalia.
Advances and Ethics
Another victory was secured in court: he was permitted to include the club name as an recognized alias on his ID card. But this did not satisfy him. “My efforts will persist until my entire name is the club's title,” he declared. His story soon led to financial opportunities – a chance to have fan merchandise made using his identity – but even with his monetary challenges, he turned down the offer because he did not want to profit from his favourite club. The Manchester United name was beyond commercial use.
Goals Achieved and Enduring Symbols
A film was made in 2011. The filmmakers turned Marin’s dream of visiting Old Trafford and there he even met the Bulgarian striker, the forward playing for United at the time.
Marin tattooed the club badge on his forehead at a later date as a objection to the judicial outcomes and in his last few years it became ever tougher for him to keep up the struggle. Employment was hard to find and he was bereaved to the pandemic. But somehow, he found a way. Born as a Catholic, he got baptised in an orthodox church under the name Manchester United Zdravkov Levidzhov. “In the eyes of the divine, I am with my true identity,” he used to say.
Earlier this week, his heart stopped beating. Maybe at last the club's persistent fan could achieve eternal tranquility.
