I Am Called Man Utd: The Superfan Who Battled to Alter His Legal Name

Inquire of any Man United fan who is older about the significance of that fateful day in May 1999, and they'll recount that the date was life-altering. It was the moment when last-minute strikes from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær completed an incredible late turnaround in the showpiece event against the German giants at the Camp Nou. Simultaneously, the world of one loyal follower in Bulgaria, who has died at the age of 62, was transformed.

Aspirations Under Communism

This individual was born Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in a small Danube town, a settlement with a tight-knit community. Growing up in communist Bulgaria with a devotion to football, he dreamed of legally altering his identity to… his beloved club. But, to adopt the name of a football club from the capitalist west was an unattainable goal. Any effort to do so during the socialist era, he would almost certainly have faced imprisonment.

A Commitment Sealed by Fate

Ten years after the political changes in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's unique aspiration edged closer to reality. Tuning in from home from his modest home in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin made a promise to himself: if United somehow turned the game around, he would spare no effort to change his name that of the club he loved. Then, the impossible happened.

He realized his ambition to see the Theatre of Dreams.

Years of Judicial Challenges

The next day, Marin consulted an attorney to state his extraordinary desire, thus initiating a difficult fight. The parent who inspired him, from whom he had gained his fandom, was long gone, and the 36-year-old was caring for his parent, taking on various types of work, including as a laborer on a meager daily wage. He was barely getting by, yet his goal turned into a fixation. He soon became the subject of gossip, then gained worldwide attention, but 15 years full of court cases and setbacks in litigation lay ahead.

Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories

His request was turned down at first for copyright reasons: he was barred from using the title of a trademark known around the globe. Then a court official granted a limited approval, saying Marin could alter his given name to the city name but that he was not to use United as his family name. “Yet my aim is to be identified with an urban area in the UK, I want to wear the name of my beloved team,” Marin told the court. The battle persisted.

His Beloved Cats

Outside of legal proceedings, he was often looking after his cats. He had plenty of them in his garden in Svishtov and loved them as much as the his team. He named them all after club legends: such as Vidic and others, they were the most famous cats in town. Which was the favourite cat of the name they used? One named after David Beckham.

He was often seen in full club regalia.

Breakthroughs and Principles

Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was permitted to include the club name as an official nickname on his ID card. But still he wasn’t happy. “I will continue until my entire name is the club's title,” he promised. His tale attracted business offers – a proposal to have club products produced under his new name – but despite his financial struggles, he declined the proposal because he was unwilling to gain financially from his favourite club. The team's title was sacred to him.

Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes

His story was captured in 2011. The crew turned Marin’s dream of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even had the chance to see the Bulgarian striker, the national team player then at the club at the time.

He inked the club badge on his brow subsequently as a protest against the legal rulings and in his final years it became ever tougher for him to persist with his fight. Job opportunities were scarce and he was bereaved to Covid-19. But he managed to continue. Originally of Catholic faith, he was christened in an orthodox church under the name Manchester United Zdravkov Levidzhov. “In the eyes of the divine, I am with my chosen name,” he often stated.

Earlier this week, his heart stopped beating. Maybe at last the club's persistent fan could achieve eternal tranquility.