I Am Called Man Utd: The Superfan Who Struggled to Alter His Legal Name

Ask any Manchester United fan from an earlier generation concerning the meaning of May 26th, 1999, and they'll recount that the date left an indelible mark. It was the night when last-minute strikes from Sheringham and Solskjær secured an stunning late turnaround in the European Cup final against Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou. That same night, the existence of one loyal follower in Eastern Europe, who has died at the 62 years old, changed forever.

A Dream Born in Communist Bulgaria

That supporter was born Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in Svishtov, a place with a modest number of residents. Living in the former Eastern Bloc with a passion for football, he aspired to legally altering his identity to… his beloved club. Yet, to claim the name of a organization from the capitalist west was a futile endeavor. Had Marin tried to do so prior to the end of communism, he would undoubtedly have been arrested.

A Promise Forged in Drama

Many seasons after the fall of the regime in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's idiosyncratic dream edged closer to achievement. Tuning in from home from his humble abode in Svishtov and with his team losing, Marin swore an oath to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would do anything to change his name that of the team he adored. Then, a miracle occurred.

He realized his ambition to see the Theatre of Dreams.

Years of Judicial Challenges

The next day, Marin visited a lawyer to state his extraordinary desire, thus beginning a long, hard battle. Marin’s father, from whom he had inherited his love of United, was long gone, and the man in his thirties was caring for his parent, taking on various types of work, including as a construction worker on a meager daily wage. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He soon became the subject of gossip, then gained worldwide attention, but a decade and a half full of legal battles and setbacks in litigation were to come.

Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories

Marin’s wish was turned down at first for intellectual property issues: he could not change his name of a trademark known around the globe. Then a presiding magistrate granted a limited approval, saying Marin could modify his forename to the city name but that he was not to use United as his family name. “However, I desire to be named after a city in England, I want to carry the title of my favourite football club,” Marin informed the judge. The struggle continued.

His Beloved Cats

When not in court, he was often caring for his feline friends. He had many animals in his outdoor space in Svishtov and held them in the same esteem as the Manchester United. He named them all after team stars: from Rio to Rooney, they were the most famous cats in town. Who was his preferred pet of Man U? One named after David Beckham.

His attire consistently showed his allegiance.

Advances and Ethics

Another victory was secured in court: he was permitted to include United as an official nickname on his personal papers. But this did not satisfy him. “I will continue until my full name is Manchester United,” he promised. His tale attracted financial opportunities – a proposal to have fan merchandise produced under his new name – but although he was in need, he declined the proposal because he was unwilling to gain financially from his favourite club. The club's identity was inviolable.

Aspirations Fulfilled and Final Acts

His story was captured in 2011. The crew made his aspiration come true of seeing the iconic stadium and there he even met his compatriot, the national team player then at the club at the time.

Marin tattooed the club badge on his forehead subsequently as a protest against the judicial outcomes and in his final years it became ever tougher for him to persist with his fight. Employment was hard to find and he suffered the death of his mother to the pandemic. But he managed to continue. Born as a Catholic, he underwent baptism in an religious institution under the name his desired full name. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my chosen name,” he often stated.

This Monday, 13 October, his time ran out. Maybe at last the club's determined supporter could at last be at rest.