I Go By Man Utd: This Die-Hard Supporter Who Fought to Change His Name
Pose the question to any Manchester United fan who is older about the significance of that fateful day in May 1999, and they'll recount that the night changed them forever. It was the night when dramatic late goals from Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær sealed an stunning late turnaround in the Champions League final against the German giants at the Camp Nou. It was also, the world of one United fan in Eastern Europe, who recently died at the 62 years old, took a new direction.
A Dream Born in Communist Bulgaria
That supporter was originally called Marin Levidzhov in his hometown, a community with a tight-knit community. Growing up in a socialist state with a passion for football, he longed to changing his name to… his beloved club. However, to take the name of a football club from the other side of the Iron Curtain was a futile endeavor. If he had attempted to do so prior to the end of communism, he would likely have been arrested.
A Vow Made Under Pressure
Ten years after the political changes in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's personal goal edged closer to achievement. Tuning in from home from his simple residence in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin made a promise to himself: should his team mount a comeback, he would spare no effort to change his name that of the club he loved. Then, a miracle occurred.
A lifelong wish to walk the halls of the famous stadium came true.
Years of Judicial Challenges
The next day, Marin visited a lawyer to express his unusual request, thus initiating a difficult fight. His dad, from whom he had gained his fandom, was no longer alive, and the 36-year-old was caring for his parent, employed in miscellaneous roles, including as a construction worker on a meager daily wage. He was barely getting by, yet his goal turned into a fixation. He soon became the talk of the town, then became an international sensation, but many seasons full of judicial disputes and setbacks in litigation awaited him.
Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories
The application was turned down at first for intellectual property issues: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a world-famous brand. Then a court official allowed a compromise, saying Marin could modify his forename to the city name but that he was prohibited from using the second part as his legal last name. “Yet my aim is to be associated with just a place in the UK, I want to carry the title of my beloved team,” Marin told the court. The struggle continued.
Companions in Adversity
When not in court, he was often tending to his pets. He had a large number in his back yard 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 most famous cats in town. Who was his preferred pet of his close friends' nickname for him? The feline known as Beckham.
Marin bedecked in United gear.
Progress and Integrity
He achieved a further success in court: he was granted the right to append United as an recognized alias on his identification document. But he remained dissatisfied. “I won’t stop until my entire name is the club's title,” he promised. His narrative resulted in financial opportunities – a proposal to have fan merchandise made using his identity – but even with his monetary challenges, he declined the proposal because he was unwilling to gain financially from his adored institution. The team's title was beyond commercial use.
Goals Achieved and Enduring Symbols
His story was captured in 2011. The crew turned Marin’s dream of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even encountered his compatriot, the Bulgaria striker then at the club at the time.
Permanently marked the club badge on his brow at a later date as a protest against the court decisions and in his final years it became increasingly hard for him to persist with his fight. Work was limited and he was bereaved to Covid-19. But somehow, he found a way. Born as a Catholic, he got baptised in an religious institution under the name his desired full name. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my chosen name,” he would frequently remark.
Earlier this week, his life came to an end. Maybe at last Manchester United’s determined supporter could finally find peace.
