I Am Called MUFC: This Superfan Who Fought to Change His Legal Name
Inquire of any Man United devotee who is older concerning the importance of that fateful day in May 1999, and they'll recount that the occasion changed them forever. It was the evening when last-minute strikes from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær secured an unbelievable 2-1 comeback in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich at the famous Barcelona stadium. Simultaneously, the world of one devoted supporter in Eastern Europe, who has died at the 62 years old, changed forever.
A Dream Born in Communist Bulgaria
The fan in question was given the name Marin Levidzhov in a small Danube town, a settlement with a population of 22,000. Living in a socialist state with a love of football, he aspired to legally altering his identity to… the Red Devils. Yet, to take the name of a organization from the other side of the Iron Curtain was a futile endeavor. Any effort to do so prior to the end of communism, he would likely have faced imprisonment.
A Vow Made Under Pressure
A decade after the political changes in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's personal goal came one step closer to achievement. Watching the final from his modest home in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin vowed to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would go to any lengths to change his name that of the team he adored. Then, against all odds, it transpired.
Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.
Years of Judicial Challenges
The next day, Marin visited a lawyer to express his unusual request, thus initiating a difficult fight. Marin’s father, from whom he had learned to support the club, was no longer alive, and the 36-year-old was residing with his mom, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a builder on a meager daily wage. He was struggling financially, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He rapidly evolved into the talk of the town, then was featured globally, but 15 years full of court cases and setbacks in litigation awaited him.
Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories
His request was turned down at first for copyright reasons: he could not change his name of a trademark known around the globe. Then a local judge allowed a compromise, saying Marin could modify his forename to the city name but that he was could not adopt United as his family name. “But I don’t want to be associated with just a place in Britain, I want to wear the name of my cherished club,” Marin told the court. His fight went on.
His Beloved Cats
During breaks from litigation, he was often tending to his pets. He had many animals in his back yard in Svishtov and cherished them equally with the his team. He gave each one a name after team stars: such as Vidic and others, they were the celebrity pets in town. Who was his preferred pet of his close friends' nickname for him? A kitty called Beckham.
His attire consistently showed his allegiance.
Breakthroughs and Principles
Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was permitted to include the club name as an legal alternative on his personal papers. But he remained dissatisfied. “My efforts will persist until my full name is Manchester United,” he vowed. His story soon led to financial opportunities – an offer to have supporters' goods made using his identity – but despite his financial struggles, he declined the proposal because he was unwilling to gain financially from his beloved team. The team's title was sacred to him.
Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes
His story was captured in that year. The crew turned Marin’s dream of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even had the chance to see his compatriot, the national team player playing for United at the time.
Marin tattooed the club badge on his brow three years later as a objection to the court decisions 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 pandemic. But somehow, he found a way. Born as a Catholic, he underwent baptism in an orthodox church under the name the identity he sought. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my chosen name,” he used to say.
Earlier this week, his heart stopped beating. It is possible that Manchester United’s persistent fan could at last be at rest.
