🔗 Share this article My Name Is Manchester United: The Superfan Who Battled to Alter His Identity Inquire of any Manchester United fan of a certain age about the significance of that fateful day in May 1999, and the answer will be that the night was life-altering. It was the evening when last-minute strikes from Teddy Sheringham and Solskjær completed an unbelievable come-from-behind victory in the showpiece event against Bayern Munich at the famous Barcelona stadium. That same night, the existence of one devoted supporter in Bulgaria, who has died at the 62 years old, changed forever. A Dream Born in Communist Bulgaria The fan in question was given the name Marin Levidzhov in a small Danube town, a community with a modest number of residents. Being raised in a socialist state with a passion for football, he aspired to adopting a new name to… the Red Devils. But, to adopt the name of a football club from the capitalist west was a futile endeavor. If he had attempted to do so before the fall of the regime, he would likely have ended up in jail. A Promise Forged in Drama Ten years after the political changes in Bulgaria – on that night in May 1999 – Marin's personal goal came one step closer to reality. Watching the final 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 go to any lengths to become known as that of the club he loved. Then, the impossible happened. A lifelong wish to walk the halls of the famous stadium came true. Years of Judicial Challenges The following morning, Marin visited a lawyer to present his unique case, thus beginning a long, hard battle. The parent who inspired him, from whom he had inherited his love of United, was deceased, and the 36-year-old was residing with his mom, employed in miscellaneous roles, including as a builder on a meager daily wage. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his dream became an obsession. He soon became the local celebrity, then was featured globally, but a decade and a half full of judicial disputes and setbacks in litigation awaited him. Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories Marin’s wish was denied early on for trademark concerns: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a world-famous brand. Then a presiding magistrate ruled partially in his favour, saying Marin could change his first name to the city name but that he was not to use United as his legal last name. “But I don’t want to be named after a city in Britain, I want to wear the name of my cherished club,” Marin told the court. The battle persisted. Companions in Adversity When not in court, he was often caring for his feline friends. He had many animals in his outdoor space in Svishtov and loved them as much as the Red Devils. He gave each one a name after United players: from Rio to Rooney, they were the most famous cats 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 granted the right to append the club name as an official nickname on his personal papers. But he remained dissatisfied. “My efforts will persist until my entire name is as I desire,” he promised. His story soon led to financial opportunities – an offer to have club products produced under his new name – but despite his financial struggles, he turned down the offer because he did not want to profit from his adored institution. The club's identity was sacred to him. Goals Achieved and Enduring Symbols A film was made in 2011. The crew turned Marin’s dream of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even encountered his compatriot, the national team player playing for United at the time. Permanently marked the club badge on his brow at a later date as a protest against the legal rulings and in his final years it became increasingly hard for him to continue his legal battle. Work was limited and he suffered the death of his mother to the pandemic. But against the odds, he persevered. Originally of Catholic faith, he got baptised in an orthodox church under the name the identity he sought. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my chosen name,” he used to say. On a recent Monday, his heart stopped beating. Perhaps now the club's persistent fan could finally find peace.