My Name Is Man Utd: This Superfan Who Fought to Change His Legal Name

Pose the question to any Man United devotee who is older concerning the significance of that fateful day in May 1999, and the answer will be that the date was life-altering. It was the night when dramatic late goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær completed an unbelievable 2-1 comeback in the European Cup final against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. Simultaneously, the world of one devoted supporter in Eastern Europe, who passed away at the 62 years old, changed forever.

Aspirations Under Communism

The fan in question was originally called Marin Levidzhov in Svishtov, a place with a population of 22,000. Living in the former Eastern Bloc with a devotion to football, he dreamed of changing his name to… Manchester United. However, to claim the name of a sports team from the other side of the Iron Curtain was an unattainable goal. Any effort to do so during the socialist era, he would likely have faced imprisonment.

A Vow Made Under Pressure

A decade after the end of communism in Bulgaria – on that night in May 1999 – Marin's unique aspiration edged closer to fulfillment. Viewing the match from his modest home in Svishtov and with his team losing, Marin vowed to himself: if United somehow turned the game around, he would spare no effort 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.

The Long Legal Battle

The following morning, Marin visited a lawyer to present his unique case, thus starting a grueling process. His dad, from whom he had gained his fandom, was no longer alive, and the man in his thirties was residing with his mom, taking on various types of work, including as a laborer on minimal earnings. He was struggling financially, yet his dream became an obsession. He rapidly evolved into the local celebrity, then became an international sensation, but 15 years full of court cases and discouraging rulings awaited him.

Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories

His request was rejected initially for trademark concerns: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a world-famous brand. Then a local judge allowed a compromise, saying Marin could alter his given name to the city name but that he was prohibited from using United as his official surname. “But I don’t want to be identified with an urban area in England, I want to wear the name of my beloved team,” Marin informed the judge. The battle persisted.

Companions in Adversity

When not in court, he was often looking after his cats. He had plenty of them in his outdoor space in Svishtov and cherished them equally with the Red Devils. He gave each one a name after team stars: from Rio to Rooney, they were the celebrity pets in town. The one he loved most of Man U? The feline known as Beckham.

Marin bedecked in United gear.

Breakthroughs and Principles

Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was granted the right to append the club name as an recognized alias on his identification document. But still he wasn’t happy. “My efforts will persist until my full name is as I desire,” he declared. His narrative resulted in business offers – an offer to have supporters' goods made using his identity – but despite his financial struggles, he declined the proposal because he was unwilling to gain financially from his beloved team. The Manchester United name was beyond commercial use.

Goals Achieved and Enduring Symbols

A film was made in 2011. The production team turned Marin’s dream of visiting Old Trafford and there he even encountered Dimitar Berbatov, the national team player then at the club at the time.

He inked the United crest on his brow three years later as a demonstration against the legal rulings and in his closing chapter it became increasingly hard for him to persist with his fight. Job opportunities were scarce and he suffered the death of his mother to Covid-19. But against the odds, he persevered. Originally of Catholic faith, he was christened in an Eastern Orthodox church under the name his desired full name. “At least God will know me with my chosen name,” he would frequently remark.

This Monday, 13 October, his time ran out. Maybe at last the club's determined supporter could at last be at rest.