I Am Called Man Utd: The Superfan Who Struggled to Change His Identity
Inquire of any Manchester United fan of a certain age regarding the importance of May 26th, 1999, and they will tell you that the date was life-altering. It was the evening when dramatic late goals from Teddy Sheringham and Solskjær secured an unbelievable late turnaround in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou. Simultaneously, the existence of one United fan in Eastern Europe, who recently died at the age of 62, changed forever.
A Dream Born in Communist Bulgaria
The fan in question was born Marin Levidzhov in a small Danube town, a community with a tight-knit community. Living in the former Eastern Bloc with a passion for football, he longed to changing his name to… his beloved club. Yet, to take the name of a sports team from the Western world was mission impossible. If he had attempted to do so prior to the end of communism, he would almost certainly have faced imprisonment.
A Vow Made Under Pressure
Ten years 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 humble abode in Svishtov and with his team losing, Marin made a promise to himself: should his team mount a comeback, he would spare no effort to legally adopt the name that of the club he loved. Then, against all odds, it transpired.
A lifelong wish to walk the halls of the famous stadium came true.
Years of Judicial Challenges
The next day, Marin sought legal counsel to express his unusual request, thus starting a grueling process. The parent who inspired him, from whom he had gained his fandom, was long gone, and the man in his thirties was caring for his parent, employed in miscellaneous roles, including as a builder on £15 a day. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He quickly turned into the subject of gossip, then gained worldwide attention, but 15 years full of court cases and discouraging rulings awaited him.
Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories
Marin’s wish was turned down at first for copyright reasons: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a world-famous brand. Then a court official granted a limited approval, saying Marin could modify his forename to Manchester but that he was not to use the second part as his family name. “Yet my aim is to be identified with an urban area in England, I want to bear the identity of my cherished club,” Marin informed the judge. His fight went on.
A Life with Feline Friends
Outside of legal proceedings, he was often caring for his feline friends. He had a large number in his outdoor space in Svishtov and cherished them equally with the his team. He gave each one a name after team stars: including Ferdinand and Rooney, they were the celebrity pets in town. The one he loved most of the name they used? The feline known as Beckham.
He was often seen in full club regalia.
Advances and Ethics
He achieved a further success in court: he was allowed to add United as an recognized alias on his identification document. But he remained dissatisfied. “I won’t stop until my complete identity is Manchester United,” he declared. His tale attracted financial opportunities – an offer to have club products branded with his legal name – but despite his financial struggles, he turned down the offer because he was unwilling to gain financially from his favourite club. The team's title was sacred to him.
Aspirations Fulfilled and Final Acts
A documentary followed in 2011. The crew made his aspiration come true of visiting Old Trafford and there he even had the chance to see the Bulgarian striker, the forward then at the club at the time.
Permanently marked the team emblem on his brow subsequently as a protest against the legal rulings and in his closing chapter it became ever tougher for him to persist with his fight. Employment was hard to find and he lost his mother to the virus. But against the odds, he persevered. Born as a Catholic, he underwent baptism in an orthodox church under the name the identity he sought. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my true identity,” he would frequently remark.
Earlier this week, his life came to an end. Perhaps now the club's determined supporter could finally find peace.
