I Am Called MUFC: The Superfan Who Fought to Alter His Identity
Pose the question to any Manchester United devotee who is older about the meaning of 26 May 1999, and they'll recount that the date changed them forever. It was the moment when last-minute strikes from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær secured an unbelievable come-from-behind victory in the Champions League final against the German giants at the Camp Nou. Simultaneously, the existence of one devoted supporter in Eastern Europe, who passed away at the 62 years old, took a new direction.
Hopes in a Bygone Era
The fan in question was born Marin Levidzhov in his hometown, a place with a modest number of residents. Growing up in the former Eastern Bloc with a passion for football, he longed to changing his name to… his beloved club. Yet, to claim the name of a football club from the capitalist west was mission impossible. Had Marin tried to do so during the socialist era, he would undoubtedly have faced imprisonment.
A Commitment Sealed by Fate
Many seasons after the end of communism in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's unique aspiration edged closer to fulfillment. Watching the final from his modest home in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin made a promise to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would spare no effort to become known as that of the team he adored. 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 present his unique case, thus initiating a difficult fight. The parent who inspired him, from whom he had inherited his love of United, was deceased, and the man in his thirties was caring for his parent, taking on various types of work, including as a builder on minimal earnings. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He quickly turned into the subject of gossip, then became an international sensation, but 15 years full of legal battles and disheartening court decisions lay ahead.
Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories
His request was denied early on for intellectual property issues: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a internationally recognized entity. Then a presiding magistrate allowed a compromise, saying Marin could modify his forename to Manchester but that he was could not adopt United as his legal last name. “Yet my aim is to be associated with just a place in England, I want to carry the title of my favourite football club,” Marin told the court. The struggle continued.
A Life with Feline Friends
Outside of legal proceedings, he was often tending to his pets. He had a large number in his back yard in Svishtov and loved them as much as the Red Devils. He named them all after team stars: such as Vidic and others, they were the best-known felines in town. The one he loved most of Man U? The feline known as Beckham.
His attire consistently showed his allegiance.
Breakthroughs and Principles
Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was allowed to add United as an official nickname on his ID card. But this did not satisfy him. “I won’t stop until my complete identity is Manchester United,” he promised. His story soon led to commercial propositions – a chance to have club products branded with his legal name – but despite his financial struggles, he turned down the offer because he refused to make money from his beloved team. The Manchester United name was inviolable.
Aspirations Fulfilled and Final Acts
His story was captured in that year. The crew made his aspiration come true of seeing the iconic stadium and there he even had the chance to see the Bulgarian striker, the forward then at the club at the time.
Permanently marked the United crest on his forehead subsequently as a demonstration against the court decisions and in his final years it became more and more difficult for him to keep up the struggle. Employment was hard to find and he lost his mother to the pandemic. But against the odds, he persevered. Originally of Catholic faith, he was christened in an Eastern Orthodox church under the name Manchester United Zdravkov Levidzhov. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my true identity,” he used to say.
On a recent Monday, his life came to an end. Maybe at last the club's determined supporter could achieve eternal tranquility.
