I Am Called MUFC: This Superfan Who Fought to Alter His Identity
Inquire of any United supporter who is older concerning the significance of 26 May 1999, and they will tell you that the night changed them forever. It was the moment when dramatic late goals from Sheringham and Solskjær completed an stunning late turnaround in the European Cup final against Bayern Munich at the famous Barcelona stadium. Simultaneously, the life of one loyal follower in Eastern Europe, who has died at the age of 62, took a new direction.
Aspirations Under Communism
That supporter was originally called Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in his hometown, a place with a population of 22,000. Being raised in communist Bulgaria with a devotion to football, he dreamed of legally altering his identity to… Manchester United. But, to adopt the name of a sports team from the capitalist west was a futile endeavor. Had Marin tried to do so before the fall of the regime, he would undoubtedly have been arrested.
A Promise Forged in Drama
Ten years after the political changes in Bulgaria – on that night in May 1999 – Marin's idiosyncratic dream moved nearer to achievement. Tuning in from home from his humble abode in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin vowed to himself: should his team mount a comeback, he would spare no effort to become known as that of the club he loved. Then, a miracle occurred.
Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.
A Protracted Court Struggle
A day later, Marin sought legal counsel to present his unique case, thus starting a grueling process. Marin’s father, from whom he had gained his fandom, was deceased, and the man in his thirties was residing with his mom, taking on various types of work, including as a builder on minimal earnings. He was struggling financially, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He soon became the talk of the town, then gained worldwide attention, but 15 years full of judicial disputes and disheartening court decisions awaited him.
Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories
The application was rejected initially for trademark concerns: he was barred from using the title of a world-famous brand. Then a presiding magistrate granted a limited approval, saying Marin could modify his forename to the city name but that he was prohibited from using the second part as his family name. “Yet my aim is to be identified with an urban area in Britain, I want to carry the title of my favourite football club,” Marin stated during proceedings. His fight went on.
A Life with Feline Friends
Outside of legal proceedings, he was often caring for his feline friends. He had a large number in his garden in Svishtov and cherished them equally with the Manchester United. He christened them after team stars: such as Vidic and others, they were the most famous cats in town. Which was the favourite cat of Man U? One named after David Beckham.
Marin bedecked in United gear.
Breakthroughs and Principles
Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was allowed to add the club name as an recognized alias on his identification document. But still he wasn’t happy. “I won’t stop until my full name is Manchester United,” he promised. His story soon led to financial opportunities – a proposal to have fan merchandise made using his identity – but although he was in need, he declined the proposal because he did not want to profit from his beloved team. The club's identity was sacred to him.
Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes
A documentary followed in 2011. The production team turned Marin’s dream of seeing the iconic stadium and there he even met the Bulgarian striker, the Bulgaria striker then at the club at the time.
Permanently marked the club badge on his face three years later as a objection to the legal rulings and in his last few years it became ever tougher for him to keep up the struggle. Work was limited and he lost his mother to the virus. But somehow, he found a way. By birth a Catholic, he got baptised in an orthodox church under the name his desired full name. “At least God will know me with my true identity,” he often stated.
Earlier this week, his heart stopped beating. It is possible that Manchester United’s persistent fan could achieve eternal tranquility.
