I Go By MUFC: The Die-Hard Supporter Who Struggled to Change His Identity
Pose the question to any Manchester United supporter who is older concerning the meaning of 26 May 1999, and the answer will be that the date changed them forever. It was the moment when dramatic late goals from 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 United fan in Bulgaria, who recently died at the 62 years old, took a new direction.
Aspirations Under Communism
The fan in question was originally called Marin Levidzhov in his hometown, a community with a population of 22,000. Living in a socialist state with a passion for football, he dreamed of legally altering his identity to… Manchester United. However, to claim the name of a sports team from the capitalist west was an unattainable goal. Any effort to do so during the socialist era, he would undoubtedly have faced imprisonment.
A Commitment Sealed by Fate
Ten years after the political changes in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's unique aspiration moved nearer to fulfillment. Tuning in from home from his modest home in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin made a promise to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would do anything to become known as that of the club he loved. Then, a miracle occurred.
Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.
Years of Judicial Challenges
The following morning, Marin sought legal counsel to present his unique case, thus starting a grueling process. The parent who inspired him, from whom he had inherited his love of United, was long gone, and the man in his thirties was residing with his mom, taking on various types of work, including as a builder on a meager daily wage. He was barely getting by, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He quickly turned into the subject of gossip, then gained worldwide attention, but a decade and a half full of court cases and setbacks in litigation lay ahead.
Trademark Issues and Limited Success
His request was rejected initially for intellectual property issues: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a internationally recognized entity. Then a court official ruled partially in his favour, saying Marin could modify his forename to the city name but that he was could not adopt United as his family name. “However, I desire to be named after a city in the UK, I want to carry the title of my favourite football club,” Marin told the court. The battle persisted.
A Life with Feline Friends
When not in court, 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 Manchester United. He christened them after club legends: such as Vidic and others, they were the celebrity pets in town. The one he loved most of Man U? One named after David Beckham.
His attire consistently showed his allegiance.
Progress and Integrity
Another victory was secured in court: he was allowed to add the club name as an legal alternative on his personal papers. But he remained dissatisfied. “I will continue until my full name is Manchester United,” he declared. His narrative resulted in financial opportunities – a chance to have supporters' goods branded with his legal name – but even with his monetary challenges, he rejected the opportunity because he was unwilling to gain financially from his favourite club. The Manchester United name was beyond commercial use.
Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes
A documentary followed in 2011. The crew made his aspiration come true of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even met Dimitar Berbatov, the Bulgaria striker playing for United at the time.
He inked the club badge on his forehead subsequently as a protest against the judicial outcomes and in his closing chapter it became more and more difficult for him to keep up the struggle. Work was limited and he was bereaved to Covid-19. But against the odds, he persevered. By birth a Catholic, he underwent baptism in an religious institution under the name his desired full name. “In the eyes of the divine, I am with my true identity,” he used to say.
Earlier this week, his life came to an end. Perhaps now the club's determined supporter could at last be at rest.
