My Name Is Manchester United: This Superfan Who Struggled to Alter His Identity
Pose the question to any Manchester United fan of a certain age about the importance of that fateful day in May 1999, and they will tell you that the night was life-altering. It was the night when dramatic late goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær secured an stunning come-from-behind victory in the showpiece event against the German giants at the Camp Nou. That same night, the life of one devoted supporter in Eastern Europe, who passed away at the 62 years old, was transformed.
Hopes in a Bygone Era
That supporter was originally called Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in his hometown, a community with a population of 22,000. Living in a socialist state with a passion for football, he aspired to changing his name to… his beloved club. But, to claim the name of a football club from the other side of the Iron Curtain was mission impossible. Any effort to do so during the socialist era, he would almost certainly have been arrested.
A Promise Forged in Drama
Ten years after the end of communism in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's idiosyncratic dream edged closer to fulfillment. Tuning in from home from his humble abode in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin swore an oath to himself: should his team mount a comeback, he would do anything to legally adopt the name that of the team he adored. Then, against all odds, it transpired.
He realized his ambition to see the Theatre of Dreams.
The Long Legal Battle
The following morning, Marin visited a lawyer 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 deceased, and the 36-year-old was residing with his mom, employed in miscellaneous roles, including as a laborer on minimal earnings. 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 many seasons full of legal battles and discouraging rulings lay ahead.
Trademark Issues and Limited Success
Marin’s wish was rejected initially for trademark concerns: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a trademark known around the globe. Then a presiding magistrate granted a limited approval, saying Marin could modify his forename to Manchester but that he was not to use the second part as his legal last name. “Yet my aim is to be named after a city in England, I want to bear the identity of my favourite football club,” Marin informed the judge. His fight went on.
His Beloved Cats
When not in court, he was often looking after his cats. He had plenty of them in his back yard in Svishtov and held them in the same esteem as the Manchester United. He gave each one a name after team stars: from Rio to Rooney, they were the most famous cats in town. The one he loved most of Man U? The feline known as Beckham.
Marin bedecked in United gear.
Progress and Integrity
Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was granted the right to append the club name as an official nickname on his ID card. But he remained dissatisfied. “My efforts will persist until my entire name is Manchester United,” he promised. His tale attracted business offers – an offer to have fan merchandise branded with his legal name – but even with his monetary challenges, he declined the proposal 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 film was made in that year. The production team fulfilled his wish of seeing the iconic stadium and there he even encountered the Bulgarian striker, the forward on the team's roster at the time.
Marin tattooed the club badge on his face three years later as a objection to the judicial outcomes and in his final years it became ever tougher for him to continue his legal battle. Work was limited and he lost his mother to Covid-19. But somehow, he found a way. By birth a Catholic, he was christened in an orthodox church under the name his desired full name. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my true identity,” he would frequently remark.
Earlier this week, his life came to an end. Perhaps now Manchester United’s restless soul could finally find peace.
