I Go By MUFC: This Superfan Who Fought to Alter His Name

Ask any Man United devotee who is older regarding the significance of that fateful day in May 1999, and the answer will be that the night was life-altering. It was the moment when last-minute strikes from Sheringham and Solskjær secured an unbelievable late turnaround in the showpiece event against Bayern Munich at the famous Barcelona stadium. Simultaneously, the existence of one devoted supporter in Eastern Europe, who recently died at the 62 years old, took a new direction.

A Dream Born in Communist Bulgaria

This individual was born Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in a small Danube town, a community with a tight-knit community. Living in the former Eastern Bloc with a love of football, he aspired to adopting a new name to… his beloved club. But, to adopt the name of a organization from the Western world was an unattainable goal. If he had attempted to do so prior to the end of communism, he would likely have faced imprisonment.

A Commitment Sealed by Fate

A decade after the political changes in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's idiosyncratic dream edged closer to fulfillment. Tuning in from home from his humble abode in Svishtov and with his team losing, Marin vowed to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would spare no effort to become known as that of the object of his devotion. Then, a miracle occurred.

A lifelong wish to walk the halls of the famous stadium came true.

The Long Legal Battle

A day later, Marin visited a lawyer to state his extraordinary desire, thus starting a grueling process. Marin’s father, from whom he had gained his fandom, was deceased, and the 36-year-old was residing with his mom, taking on various types of work, including as a builder on a meager daily wage. He was struggling financially, yet his dream became an obsession. He rapidly evolved into the talk of the town, then was featured globally, but many seasons full of court cases and setbacks in litigation awaited him.

Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories

Marin’s wish was rejected initially for copyright reasons: he could not change his name of a internationally recognized entity. Then a presiding magistrate allowed a compromise, saying Marin could alter his given name to the city name but that he was prohibited from using United as his family name. “However, I desire to be named after a city in Britain, I want to wear the name of my beloved team,” Marin informed the judge. The battle persisted.

A Life with Feline Friends

Outside of legal proceedings, he was often looking after his cats. He had many animals in his back yard in Svishtov and loved them as much as the Manchester United. He gave each one a name after team stars: from Rio to Rooney, they were the celebrity pets in town. Who was his preferred pet of his close friends' nickname for him? The feline known as Beckham.

He was often seen in full club regalia.

Advances and Ethics

Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was permitted to include United as an recognized alias on his personal papers. But this did not satisfy him. “I will continue until my full name is as I desire,” he declared. His story soon led to commercial propositions – a proposal to have supporters' goods produced under his new name – but despite his financial struggles, he rejected the opportunity because he was unwilling to gain financially from his favourite club. The club's identity was sacred to him.

Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes

A film was made in that year. The production team fulfilled his wish of visiting Old Trafford and there he even encountered the Bulgarian striker, the forward then at the club at the time.

He inked the United crest on his brow at a later date as a demonstration against the court decisions and in his closing chapter it became increasingly hard for him to keep up the struggle. Employment was hard to find and he was bereaved to the pandemic. But somehow, he found a way. Born as a Catholic, he underwent baptism in an religious institution under the name Manchester United Zdravkov Levidzhov. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my real name,” he would frequently remark.

Earlier this week, his heart stopped beating. Maybe at last Manchester United’s restless soul could at last be at rest.