I Go By Manchester United: The Superfan Who Fought to Change His Name
Pose the question to any United devotee who is older about the importance of that fateful day in May 1999, and they'll recount that the night was life-altering. It was the moment when last-minute strikes from Sheringham and Solskjær secured an unbelievable come-from-behind victory in the European Cup final against Bayern Munich at the famous Barcelona stadium. Simultaneously, the existence of one United fan in Bulgaria, who passed away at the 62 years old, took a new direction.
Hopes in a Bygone Era
That supporter was originally called Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in Svishtov, a place with a population of 22,000. Living in the former Eastern Bloc with a devotion to football, he longed to changing his name to… the Red Devils. But, to claim the name of a football club from the Western world was a futile endeavor. Any effort to do so prior to the end of communism, he would undoubtedly have been arrested.
A Commitment Sealed by Fate
Ten years after the political changes in Bulgaria – on that night in May 1999 – Marin's personal goal moved nearer to achievement. Watching the final from his humble abode in Svishtov and with his team losing, Marin made a promise to himself: if United somehow turned the game around, he would spare no effort to become known as that of the object of his devotion. Then, against all odds, it transpired.
A lifelong wish to walk the halls of the famous stadium came true.
Years of Judicial Challenges
The following morning, Marin visited a lawyer to express his unusual request, thus beginning a long, hard battle. His dad, from whom he had learned to support the club, was deceased, and the man in his thirties was living with his mother, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a construction worker on £15 a day. He was struggling financially, yet his dream became an obsession. He quickly turned into the local celebrity, then gained worldwide attention, but 15 years full of court cases and discouraging rulings awaited him.
Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories
His request was denied early on for trademark concerns: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a internationally recognized entity. Then a presiding magistrate ruled partially in his favour, saying Marin could modify his forename to the city name but that he was could not adopt the second part as his family name. “Yet my aim is to be identified with an urban area in the UK, I want to carry the title of my favourite football club,” Marin told the court. The struggle continued.
Companions in Adversity
When not in court, he was often caring for his feline friends. He had a large number in his back yard in Svishtov and cherished them equally with the his team. He christened them after club legends: such as Vidic and others, they were the best-known felines in town. Who was his preferred pet of the name they used? One named after David Beckham.
He was often seen in full club regalia.
Progress and Integrity
Marin managed another breakthrough 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 as I desire,” he promised. His tale attracted business offers – a chance to have club products branded with his legal name – but despite his financial struggles, he declined the proposal because he did not want to profit from his favourite club. The Manchester United name was beyond commercial use.
Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes
A documentary followed in 2011. The production team fulfilled his wish of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even encountered Dimitar Berbatov, the national team player playing for United at the time.
He inked the team emblem on his brow three years later as a objection to the judicial outcomes and in his closing chapter it became increasingly hard for him to continue his legal battle. Work was limited and he lost his mother to the virus. But he managed to continue. By birth 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 used to say.
On a recent Monday, his life came to an end. It is possible that Manchester United’s determined supporter could achieve eternal tranquility.
