I Go By Man Utd: This Superfan Who Struggled to Alter His Identity
Inquire of any Man United supporter of a certain age concerning the importance of that fateful day in May 1999, and the answer will be that the date was life-altering. It was the evening when dramatic late goals from Sheringham and Solskjær secured an unbelievable 2-1 comeback in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich at the famous Barcelona stadium. That same night, the life of one United fan 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 modest number of residents. Being raised in the former Eastern Bloc with a devotion to football, he aspired to changing his name to… Manchester United. But, to take the name of a sports team from the other side of the Iron Curtain was mission impossible. Any effort to do so prior to the end of communism, he would likely have been arrested.
A Commitment Sealed by Fate
Ten years after the political changes in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's idiosyncratic dream moved nearer to achievement. Viewing the match from his humble abode in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin made a promise to himself: if United somehow turned the game around, he would go to any lengths to legally adopt the name that of the club he loved. Then, the impossible happened.
A lifelong wish to walk the halls of the famous stadium came true.
A Protracted Court Struggle
The next day, Marin sought legal counsel to present his unique case, thus starting a grueling process. The parent who inspired him, from whom he had gained his fandom, was long gone, and the 36-year-old was caring for his parent, employed in miscellaneous roles, including as a construction worker on £15 a day. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his dream became an obsession. He rapidly evolved into the local celebrity, then became an international sensation, but 15 years full of judicial disputes and setbacks in litigation awaited him.
Legal Obstacles and Small Wins
Marin’s wish was rejected initially for trademark concerns: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a internationally recognized entity. Then a local judge allowed a compromise, saying Marin could alter his given name to the city name but that he was not to use United as his family name. “Yet my aim is to be named after a city in England, I want to carry the title of my cherished club,” Marin stated during proceedings. The battle persisted.
His Beloved Cats
During breaks from litigation, he was often looking after his cats. He had a large number in his outdoor space in Svishtov and held them in the same esteem as the his team. He named them all after club legends: including Ferdinand and Rooney, they were the most famous cats in town. Who was his preferred pet of the name they used? One named after David Beckham.
His attire consistently showed his allegiance.
Breakthroughs and Principles
Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was granted the right to append the club name as an legal alternative on his identification document. But he remained dissatisfied. “I will continue until my complete identity is as I desire,” he promised. His narrative resulted in financial opportunities – a chance to have supporters' goods made using his identity – but even with his monetary challenges, he rejected the opportunity because he refused to make money from his favourite club. The Manchester United name was beyond commercial use.
Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes
His story was captured in that year. The filmmakers made his aspiration come true of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even encountered his compatriot, the Bulgaria striker playing for United at the time.
Permanently marked the club badge on his face three years later as a objection to the court decisions and in his last few years it became more and more difficult for him to continue his legal battle. Employment was hard to find and he lost his mother to the pandemic. But against the odds, he persevered. Originally of Catholic faith, he got baptised in an religious institution under the name Manchester United Zdravkov Levidzhov. “At least God will know me with my true identity,” he often stated.
This Monday, 13 October, his time ran out. It is possible that the club's persistent fan could at last be at rest.
