I Am Called Manchester United: The Superfan Who Battled to Change His Legal Name

Ask any Manchester United devotee who is older concerning the significance of that fateful day in May 1999, and they will tell you that the date changed them forever. It was the moment when last-minute strikes from Sheringham and Solskjær completed an incredible late turnaround in the European Cup final against Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou. That same night, the existence of one loyal follower in Bulgaria, who passed away at the age of 62, was transformed.

Aspirations Under Communism

That supporter was born Marin Levidzhov in a small Danube town, a settlement with a modest number of residents. Being raised in communist Bulgaria with a devotion to football, he aspired to adopting a new name to… his beloved club. Yet, to claim the name of a sports team from the capitalist west was a futile endeavor. If he had attempted to do so prior to the end of communism, he would likely have been arrested.

A Vow Made Under Pressure

Many seasons after the fall of the regime in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's idiosyncratic dream moved nearer to achievement. Tuning in from home from his humble abode in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin made a promise to himself: should his team mount a comeback, he would go to any lengths to become known as that of the object of his devotion. Then, a miracle occurred.

Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.

A Protracted Court Struggle

The following morning, Marin sought legal counsel 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 man in his thirties was living with his mother, employed in miscellaneous roles, including as a builder on a meager daily wage. He was struggling financially, yet his dream became an obsession. He quickly turned into the subject of gossip, then was featured globally, but many seasons full of legal battles and setbacks in litigation awaited him.

Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories

His request was denied early on for intellectual property issues: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a internationally recognized entity. Then a court official granted a limited approval, saying Marin could change his first name to the city name but that he was could not adopt the second part as his family name. “But I don’t want to be associated with just a place in Britain, I want to bear the identity of my cherished club,” Marin informed the judge. The battle persisted.

A Life with Feline Friends

During breaks from litigation, he was often caring for his feline friends. He had many animals in his garden in Svishtov and loved them as much as the Red Devils. He gave each one a name after club legends: from Rio to Rooney, they were the best-known felines in town. Which was the favourite cat of Man U? One named after David Beckham.

His attire consistently showed his allegiance.

Breakthroughs and Principles

Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was granted the right to append the club name as an recognized alias on his personal papers. But this did not satisfy him. “My efforts will persist until my full name is Manchester United,” he declared. His story soon led to business offers – a proposal to have supporters' goods produced under his new name – but despite his financial struggles, he turned down the offer because he was unwilling to gain financially from his adored institution. The club's identity was sacred to him.

Goals Achieved and Enduring Symbols

A documentary followed in 2011. The crew made his aspiration come true of visiting Old Trafford and there he even had the chance to see Dimitar Berbatov, the national team player on the team's roster at the time.

He inked the team emblem on his forehead subsequently as a protest against the judicial outcomes and in his last few years it became more and more difficult for him to keep up the struggle. Employment was hard to find and he lost his mother to the virus. But against the odds, he persevered. By birth a Catholic, he got baptised in an Eastern Orthodox church under the name the identity he sought. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my real name,” he would frequently remark.

This Monday, 13 October, his heart stopped beating. It is possible that the club's determined supporter could finally find peace.