I Go By MUFC: The Superfan Who Fought to Change His Name
Ask any Manchester United fan of a certain age regarding the meaning of 26 May 1999, and they will tell you that the date was life-altering. It was the evening when injury-time goals from Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær secured an stunning 2-1 comeback in the showpiece event against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. It was also, the life of one loyal follower in Bulgaria, who passed away at the 62 years old, was transformed.
Aspirations Under Communism
That supporter was given the name Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in Svishtov, a settlement with a tight-knit community. Living in a socialist state with a passion for football, he dreamed of legally altering his identity to… the Red Devils. Yet, to take the name of a football club from the other side of the Iron Curtain was a futile endeavor. Had Marin tried to do so during the socialist era, he would almost certainly have been arrested.
A Vow Made Under Pressure
A decade after the end of communism in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's idiosyncratic dream edged closer to fulfillment. Tuning in from home from his simple residence in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin made a promise to himself: if United somehow turned the game around, he would spare no effort to legally adopt the name that of the object of his devotion. Then, the impossible happened.
He realized his ambition to see the Theatre of Dreams.
A Protracted Court Struggle
A day later, Marin consulted an attorney to present his unique case, thus starting a grueling process. Marin’s father, from whom he had gained his fandom, was no longer alive, and the man in his thirties was caring for his parent, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a builder on £15 a day. He was struggling financially, yet his dream became an obsession. He rapidly evolved into the local celebrity, then gained worldwide attention, but 15 years full of judicial disputes and setbacks in litigation awaited him.
Legal Obstacles and Small Wins
The application was rejected initially for copyright reasons: he was barred from using the title of a internationally recognized entity. Then a court official allowed a compromise, saying Marin could modify his forename to Manchester but that he was prohibited from using the second part as his family name. “But I don’t want to be associated with just a place in Britain, I want to carry the title of my beloved team,” Marin informed the judge. The struggle continued.
Companions in Adversity
During breaks from litigation, he was often looking after his cats. He had plenty of them in his outdoor space in Svishtov and cherished them equally with the his team. He gave each one a name after club legends: such as Vidic and others, they were the celebrity pets in town. Who was his preferred pet of Man U? A kitty called Beckham.
He was often seen in full club regalia.
Advances and Ethics
Another victory was secured in court: he was allowed to add the club name as an recognized alias on his identification document. But this did not satisfy him. “I won’t stop until my entire name is as I desire,” he vowed. His story soon led to business offers – a proposal to have supporters' goods produced under his new name – but despite his financial struggles, he declined the proposal because he did not want to profit from his adored institution. The team's title was sacred to him.
Goals Achieved and Enduring Symbols
His story was captured in that year. The production team fulfilled his wish of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even had the chance to see the Bulgarian striker, the forward then at the club at the time.
He inked the United crest on his brow subsequently as a protest against the judicial outcomes and in his final years it became more and more difficult for him to continue his legal battle. Job opportunities were scarce and he lost his mother to the pandemic. But against the odds, he persevered. Originally of Catholic faith, he was christened in an orthodox church under the name Manchester United Zdravkov Levidzhov. “At least God will know me with my true identity,” he often stated.
On a recent Monday, his life came to an end. It is possible that Manchester United’s restless soul could achieve eternal tranquility.
