I Go By MUFC: The Superfan Who Battled to Alter His Identity

Pose the question to any Man United fan who is older regarding the meaning of May 26th, 1999, and the answer will be that the night changed them forever. It was the moment when last-minute strikes from Teddy Sheringham and Solskjær completed an unbelievable come-from-behind victory in the Champions League final against the German giants at the Camp Nou. It was also, the existence of one United fan in Bulgaria, who has died at the age of 62, took a new direction.

Hopes in a Bygone Era

That supporter was born Marin Levidzhov in a small Danube town, a place with a modest number of residents. Living in the former Eastern Bloc with a devotion to football, he aspired to legally altering his identity to… his beloved club. However, to take the name of a football club from the Western world was an unattainable goal. Had Marin tried to do so during the socialist era, he would almost certainly have been arrested.

A Promise Forged in Drama

Many seasons after the fall of the regime in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's idiosyncratic dream came one step closer to reality. Viewing the match from his modest home in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin swore an oath to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would do anything to change his name that of the team he adored. Then, against all odds, it transpired.

Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.

Years of Judicial Challenges

The following morning, Marin sought legal counsel to state his extraordinary desire, thus starting a grueling process. Marin’s father, from whom he had gained his fandom, was no longer alive, and the man in his thirties was caring for his parent, working all kinds of odd jobs, 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 local celebrity, then became an international sensation, but many seasons full of judicial disputes and disheartening court decisions lay ahead.

Legal Obstacles and Small Wins

The application was denied early on for copyright reasons: he could not change his name of a world-famous brand. Then a court official ruled partially in his favour, saying Marin could alter his given name to Manchester but that he was could not adopt United as his official surname. “But I don’t want to be named after a city in the UK, I want to carry the title of my cherished club,” Marin informed the judge. His fight went on.

His Beloved Cats

When not in court, he was often tending to his pets. He had plenty of them in his garden in Svishtov and held them in the same esteem as the his team. He christened them after team stars: such as Vidic and others, they were the celebrity pets in town. Which was the favourite cat of the name they used? The feline known as Beckham.

Marin bedecked in United gear.

Progress and Integrity

Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was allowed to add United as an legal alternative on his ID card. But he remained dissatisfied. “I will continue until my full name is the club's title,” he declared. His tale attracted commercial propositions – a chance 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 favourite club. The Manchester United name was inviolable.

Aspirations Fulfilled and Final Acts

A film was made in 2011. The production team fulfilled his wish of seeing the iconic stadium and there he even encountered Dimitar Berbatov, the national team player playing for United at the time.

Marin tattooed the team emblem on his brow three years later as a objection to the court decisions and in his closing chapter it became ever tougher for him to continue his legal battle. Employment was hard to find and he suffered the death of his mother to the pandemic. But against the odds, he persevered. Originally of Catholic faith, he got baptised in an religious institution under the name his desired full name. “At least God will know me with my chosen name,” he used to say.

On a recent Monday, his time ran out. It is possible that the club's restless soul could finally find peace.