I Am Called Man Utd: The Die-Hard Supporter Who Struggled to Change His Legal Name

Ask any Man United devotee from an earlier generation regarding the significance of May 26th, 1999, and they'll recount that the date was life-altering. It was the evening when injury-time goals from Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær completed an unbelievable come-from-behind victory in the European Cup final against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. That same night, the life of one loyal follower in Eastern Europe, who recently died at the age of 62, was transformed.

Hopes in a Bygone Era

That supporter was given the name Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in Svishtov, a settlement with a tight-knit community. Living in the former Eastern Bloc with a passion for football, he aspired to changing his name to… his beloved club. But, to claim the name of a football club from the Western world was a futile endeavor. Had Marin tried to do so during the socialist era, he would likely have faced imprisonment.

A Promise Forged in Drama

Ten years after the fall of the regime in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's personal goal came one step closer to fulfillment. Watching the final from his modest home in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin vowed to himself: if United somehow turned the game around, he would go to any lengths to change his name that of the team he adored. Then, against all odds, it transpired.

Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.

A Protracted Court Struggle

The next day, Marin consulted an attorney to present his unique case, thus starting a grueling process. His dad, from whom he had inherited his love of United, was deceased, and the 36-year-old was caring for his parent, employed in miscellaneous roles, including as a laborer on a meager daily wage. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He rapidly evolved into the talk of the town, then gained worldwide attention, but many seasons full of court cases and discouraging rulings were to come.

Legal Obstacles and Small Wins

His request was denied early on for copyright reasons: he was barred from using the title of a internationally recognized entity. Then a presiding magistrate granted a limited approval, saying Marin could modify his forename to Manchester but that he was not to use the second part as his legal last name. “Yet my aim is to be associated with just a place in Britain, I want to carry the title of my beloved team,” Marin told the court. His fight went on.

A Life with Feline Friends

Outside of legal proceedings, he was often looking after his cats. He had plenty of them in his outdoor space in Svishtov and loved them as much as the his team. He christened them after team stars: from Rio to Rooney, they were the most famous cats in town. Which was the favourite cat of Man U? One named after David Beckham.

Marin bedecked in United gear.

Advances and Ethics

He achieved a further success in court: he was allowed to add the club name as an official nickname on his personal papers. But he remained dissatisfied. “I won’t stop until my full name is Manchester United,” he vowed. His tale attracted financial opportunities – a proposal to have fan merchandise branded with his legal name – but even with his monetary challenges, he declined the proposal because he did not want to profit from his favourite club. The team's title was sacred to him.

Aspirations Fulfilled and Final Acts

A documentary followed in that year. The production team turned Marin’s dream of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even had the chance to see his compatriot, the Bulgaria striker then at the club at the time.

Marin tattooed the club badge on his face subsequently as a protest against the judicial outcomes and in his last few years it became increasingly hard for him to persist with his fight. Work was limited and he was bereaved to the pandemic. But against the odds, he persevered. By birth a Catholic, he was christened in an orthodox church under the name Manchester United Zdravkov Levidzhov. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my true identity,” he used to say.

Earlier this week, his time ran out. Perhaps now the club's persistent fan could achieve eternal tranquility.