I Am Called MUFC: This Die-Hard Supporter Who Fought to Alter His Name
Inquire of any Manchester United fan of a certain age about the importance of May 26th, 1999, and they'll recount that the night changed them forever. It was the evening when injury-time goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær secured an stunning late turnaround in the showpiece event against Bayern Munich at the famous Barcelona stadium. It was also, the existence of one United fan in Bulgaria, who has died at the 62 years old, changed forever.
Hopes in a Bygone Era
This individual was given the name Marin Levidzhov in his hometown, a place with a modest number of residents. Being raised in a socialist state with a passion for football, he dreamed of legally altering his identity to… his beloved club. However, to claim the name of a sports team from the capitalist west was mission impossible. Any effort to do so prior to the end of communism, he would undoubtedly have ended up in jail.
A Promise Forged in Drama
Many seasons after the fall of the regime in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's personal goal came one step closer to achievement. Tuning in from home from his humble abode in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin made a promise to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would go to any lengths to legally adopt the name that of the object of his devotion. Then, the impossible happened.
A lifelong wish to walk the halls of the famous stadium came true.
A Protracted Court Struggle
A day later, Marin visited a lawyer to express his unusual request, thus initiating a difficult fight. The parent who inspired him, from whom he had gained his fandom, was long gone, and the 36-year-old was residing with his mom, taking on various types of work, including as a construction worker on £15 a day. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his goal turned into a fixation. He soon became the subject of gossip, then was featured globally, but many seasons full of legal battles and disheartening court decisions awaited him.
Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories
His request was turned down at first for intellectual property issues: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a trademark known around the globe. Then a local judge allowed a compromise, saying Marin could modify his forename to Manchester but that he was could not adopt the second part as his legal last name. “But I don’t want to be associated with just a place in Britain, I want to wear the name of my favourite football club,” Marin told the court. The battle persisted.
Companions in Adversity
During breaks from litigation, he was often tending to his pets. He had a large number in his outdoor space in Svishtov and held them in the same esteem as the Red Devils. He gave each one a name after team stars: from Rio to Rooney, they were the celebrity pets in town. The one he loved most of Man U? One named after David Beckham.
Marin bedecked in United gear.
Advances and Ethics
Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was granted the right to append United as an legal alternative on his personal papers. But still he wasn’t happy. “My efforts will persist 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 although he was in need, he declined the proposal because he was unwilling to gain financially from his beloved team. The Manchester United name was sacred to him.
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 Dimitar Berbatov, the forward then at the club at the time.
He inked the United crest on his forehead subsequently as a objection to the legal rulings and in his closing chapter it became more and more difficult for him to persist with his fight. Work was limited and he suffered the death of his mother to the pandemic. But against the odds, he persevered. Originally of Catholic faith, he underwent baptism in an religious institution under the name his desired full name. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my real name,” he used to say.
On a recent Monday, his time ran out. Perhaps now the club's persistent fan could achieve eternal tranquility.