My Name Is Manchester United: The Die-Hard Supporter Who Battled to Change His Legal Name

Pose the question to any Man United supporter of a certain age concerning the significance of 26 May 1999, and they will tell you that the date was life-altering. It was the moment when dramatic late goals from Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær completed an incredible 2-1 comeback in the European Cup final against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. Simultaneously, the life of one loyal follower in Bulgaria, who passed away at the 62 years old, was transformed.

Hopes in a Bygone Era

That supporter was born Marin Levidzhov in Svishtov, a place with a population of 22,000. Growing up in communist Bulgaria with a love of football, he dreamed of changing his name to… his beloved club. But, to claim the name of a sports team 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 almost certainly have ended up in jail.

A Promise Forged in Drama

Ten years after the end of communism in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's personal goal moved nearer to achievement. Watching the final from his humble abode in Svishtov and with his team losing, Marin swore an oath to himself: if United somehow turned the game around, he would spare no effort to legally adopt the name that of the team he adored. Then, the impossible happened.

Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.

The Long Legal Battle

A day later, Marin visited a lawyer to state his extraordinary desire, thus starting a grueling process. The parent who inspired him, from whom he had learned to support the club, was deceased, and the 36-year-old was caring for his parent, employed in miscellaneous roles, including as a laborer on a meager daily wage. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He quickly turned into the talk of the town, then gained worldwide attention, but many seasons full of legal battles and discouraging rulings lay ahead.

Trademark Issues and Limited Success

The application was rejected initially for trademark concerns: he was barred from using the title of a trademark known around the globe. Then a court official allowed a compromise, saying Marin could alter his given name to the city name but that he was could not adopt United as his official surname. “But I don’t want to be associated with just a place in England, I want to carry the title of my beloved team,” Marin informed the judge. The struggle continued.

His Beloved Cats

When not in court, he was often looking after his cats. He had a large number in his outdoor space in Svishtov and held them in the same esteem as the Red Devils. He gave each one a name after team stars: such as Vidic and others, they were the best-known felines in town. The one he loved most of the name they used? One named after David Beckham.

He was often seen in full club regalia.

Progress and Integrity

Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was permitted to include the club name as an legal alternative on his ID card. But this did not satisfy him. “I will continue until my full name is Manchester United,” he vowed. His story soon led to business offers – an offer to have supporters' goods made using his identity – but although he was in need, he turned down the offer because he refused to make money from his beloved team. The team's title was inviolable.

Goals Achieved and Enduring Symbols

His story was captured in 2011. The filmmakers turned Marin’s dream of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even encountered his compatriot, the Bulgaria striker playing for United at the time.

Permanently marked the club badge on his forehead subsequently as a demonstration against the legal rulings and in his closing chapter it became more and more difficult for him to continue his legal battle. Job opportunities were scarce and he lost his mother to Covid-19. But against the odds, he persevered. Originally of Catholic faith, he got baptised in an orthodox church under the name the identity he sought. “In the eyes of the divine, I am with my true identity,” he often stated.

On a recent Monday, his life came to an end. Maybe at last the club's persistent fan could finally find peace.