🔗 Share this article I Am Called Manchester United: The Die-Hard Supporter Who Fought to Change His Identity Ask any Manchester United devotee of a certain age concerning the significance of May 26th, 1999, and the answer will be that the date was life-altering. It was the moment when injury-time goals from Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær completed an stunning 2-1 comeback in the showpiece event against Bayern Munich at the famous Barcelona stadium. That same night, the existence of one devoted supporter in Eastern Europe, who recently died at the 62 years old, took a new direction. Hopes in a Bygone Era The fan in question was born Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in his hometown, a place with a population of 22,000. Being raised in communist Bulgaria with a love of football, he aspired to changing his name to… his beloved club. But, to take the name of a organization from the other side of the Iron Curtain was a futile endeavor. If he had attempted to do so before the fall of the regime, he would likely have been arrested. A Promise Forged in Drama A decade after the fall of the regime in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's unique aspiration moved nearer to reality. Watching the final from his simple residence in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin swore an oath to himself: if United somehow turned the game around, he would go to any lengths to change his name that of the object of his devotion. Then, against all odds, it transpired. Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford. Years of Judicial Challenges The following morning, Marin visited a lawyer to present his unique case, thus beginning a long, hard battle. His dad, from whom he had gained his fandom, was no longer alive, and the man in his thirties was living with his mother, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a construction worker on £15 a day. He was struggling financially, yet his goal turned into a fixation. He rapidly evolved into the talk of the town, then gained worldwide attention, but many seasons full of legal battles and discouraging rulings awaited him. Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories His request was denied early on for intellectual property issues: he could not change his name of a trademark known around the globe. Then a local judge allowed a compromise, saying Marin could modify his forename to Manchester but that he was could not adopt United as his family name. “Yet my aim is to be associated with just a place in Britain, I want to carry the title of my cherished club,” Marin informed the judge. His fight went on. His Beloved Cats During breaks from litigation, 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 Manchester United. He gave each one a name after team stars: from Rio to Rooney, they were the most famous cats in town. Which was the favourite cat of Man U? A kitty called 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 legal alternative on his ID card. But he remained dissatisfied. “I won’t stop until my entire name is the club's title,” he vowed. His tale attracted business offers – a proposal to have supporters' goods produced under his new name – but although he was in need, he rejected the opportunity because he was unwilling to gain financially from his beloved team. The Manchester United name was inviolable. Aspirations Fulfilled and Final Acts A documentary followed in that year. The filmmakers turned Marin’s dream of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even had the chance to see the Bulgarian striker, the Bulgaria striker playing for United at the time. Marin tattooed the club badge on his brow at a later date as a objection to the court decisions and in his last few years it became more and more difficult for him to persist with his fight. Employment was hard to find and he suffered the death of his mother to the pandemic. But he managed to continue. Originally of Catholic faith, he was christened in an orthodox church under the name the identity he sought. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my real name,” he would frequently remark. Earlier this week, his life came to an end. Maybe at last Manchester United’s persistent fan could finally find peace.