I Am Called MUFC: This Superfan Who Struggled to Change His Legal Name
Pose the question to any United supporter from an earlier generation about the significance of May 26th, 1999, and they'll recount that the date left an indelible mark. It was the night when last-minute strikes from Teddy Sheringham and Solskjær sealed an unbelievable 2-1 comeback in the showpiece event against the German giants at the Camp Nou. It was also, the life of one devoted supporter in Eastern Europe, who recently died at the age of 62, was transformed.
A Dream Born in Communist Bulgaria
That supporter was originally called Marin Levidzhov in his hometown, a settlement with a population of 22,000. Growing up in the former Eastern Bloc with a devotion to football, he aspired to adopting a new name to… Manchester United. But, to claim the name of a organization from the capitalist west was mission impossible. Had Marin tried to do so before the fall of the regime, he would almost certainly have faced imprisonment.
A Vow Made Under Pressure
Many seasons after the political changes in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's unique aspiration came one step closer to fulfillment. Watching the final from his modest home in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin made a promise to himself: should his team mount a comeback, he would do anything to change his name that of the team he adored. Then, a miracle occurred.
Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.
A Protracted Court Struggle
The following morning, Marin visited a lawyer to express his unusual request, thus initiating a difficult fight. The parent who inspired him, from whom he had gained his fandom, was deceased, and the man in his thirties was caring for his parent, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a laborer on ÂŁ15 a day. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He soon became the talk of the town, then became an international sensation, but 15 years full of legal battles and discouraging rulings lay ahead.
Legal Obstacles and Small Wins
The application was turned down at first for trademark concerns: he was barred from using the title of a trademark known around the globe. Then a court official allowed a compromise, saying Marin could modify his forename to Manchester but that he was could not adopt United as his legal last name. “But I don’t want to be identified with an urban area in Britain, I want to wear the name of my beloved team,” Marin stated during proceedings. The battle persisted.
A Life with Feline Friends
During breaks from litigation, he was often caring for his feline friends. He had plenty of them in his garden in Svishtov and loved them as much as the Manchester United. He gave each one a name after team stars: including Ferdinand and Rooney, they were the celebrity pets in town. Who was his preferred pet of Man U? The feline known as Beckham.
His attire consistently showed his allegiance.
Advances and Ethics
Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was permitted to include United as an official nickname on his personal papers. But still he wasn’t happy. “I won’t stop until my entire name is Manchester United,” he vowed. His story soon led to business offers – an offer to have fan merchandise made using his identity – but even with his monetary challenges, he rejected the opportunity because he refused to make money from his favourite club. The Manchester United name was inviolable.
Goals Achieved and Enduring Symbols
A documentary followed in 2011. The crew fulfilled his wish of seeing the iconic stadium and there he even had the chance to see his compatriot, the Bulgaria striker playing for United at the time.
He inked the United crest on his face three years later as a demonstration against the legal rulings and in his closing chapter it became increasingly hard for him to continue his legal battle. Employment was hard to find and he suffered the death of his mother to Covid-19. But he managed to continue. Born as a Catholic, he got baptised in an Eastern Orthodox church under the name his desired full name. “In the eyes of the divine, I am with my chosen name,” he often stated.
On a recent Monday, his time ran out. Maybe at last the club's determined supporter could at last be at rest.
