I Go By Manchester United: The Die-Hard Supporter Who Fought to Alter His Identity

Inquire of any United devotee who is older regarding the importance of that fateful day in May 1999, and they'll recount that the night was life-altering. It was the moment when dramatic late goals from Teddy Sheringham and Solskjær completed an unbelievable come-from-behind victory in the showpiece event against Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou. That same night, the life of one loyal follower in Bulgaria, who recently died at the 62 years old, was transformed.

Aspirations Under Communism

That supporter was originally called Marin Levidzhov in a small Danube town, a place with a tight-knit community. Living in the former Eastern Bloc with a passion for football, he aspired to legally altering his identity to… his beloved club. But, to take the name of a football club from the other side of the Iron Curtain was an unattainable goal. If he had attempted to do so prior to the end of communism, he would almost certainly have been arrested.

A Vow Made Under Pressure

A decade after the fall of the regime in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's unique aspiration came one step closer to fulfillment. Viewing the match from his modest home in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin vowed to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would do anything to become known as that of the object of his devotion. Then, a miracle occurred.

A lifelong wish to walk the halls of the famous stadium came true.

Years of Judicial Challenges

The following morning, Marin sought legal counsel to express his unusual request, thus starting a grueling process. His dad, from whom he had inherited his love of United, was no longer alive, and the man in his thirties was residing with his mom, employed in miscellaneous roles, including as a builder on a meager daily wage. He was barely getting by, yet his goal turned into a fixation. He rapidly evolved into the talk of the town, then was featured globally, but many seasons full of court cases and setbacks in litigation lay ahead.

Trademark Issues and Limited Success

His request was denied early on for trademark concerns: he could not change his name of a trademark known around the globe. Then a presiding magistrate granted a limited approval, saying Marin could modify his forename to Manchester but that he was prohibited from using the second part as his legal last name. “Yet my aim is to be named after a city in the UK, I want to bear the identity of my favourite football club,” Marin stated during proceedings. His fight went on.

His Beloved Cats

When not in court, he was often tending to his pets. He had a large number in his garden in Svishtov and cherished them equally with the his team. He christened them after United players: from Rio to Rooney, they were the celebrity pets in town. Who was his preferred pet of Man U? One named after David Beckham.

He was often seen in full club regalia.

Progress and Integrity

Another victory was secured in court: he was granted the right to append the club name as an legal alternative on his personal papers. But he remained dissatisfied. “My efforts will persist until my complete identity is the club's title,” he declared. His tale attracted 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 was unwilling to gain financially from his beloved team. The Manchester United name was inviolable.

Goals Achieved and Enduring Symbols

His story was captured in that year. The production team fulfilled his wish of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even had the chance to see Dimitar Berbatov, the forward playing for United at the time.

Permanently marked the club badge on his forehead at a later date as a protest against the legal rulings and in his final years it became increasingly hard for him to persist with his fight. Job opportunities were scarce and he suffered the death of his mother to the pandemic. But somehow, he found a way. Born as a Catholic, he underwent baptism in an religious institution under the name his desired full name. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my chosen name,” he would frequently remark.

Earlier this week, his heart stopped beating. Perhaps now Manchester United’s restless soul could at last be at rest.