🔗 Share this article

Inquire of any United supporter of a certain age about the significance of that fateful day in May 1999, and they will tell you that the occasion changed them forever. It was the evening when dramatic late goals from Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær secured an unbelievable come-from-behind victory in the European Cup final against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. Simultaneously, the existence of one United fan in Bulgaria, who passed away at the age of 62, changed forever.

A Dream Born in Communist Bulgaria

That supporter was given the name Marin Levidzhov in a small Danube town, a settlement with a tight-knit community. Living in communist Bulgaria with a devotion to football, he longed to legally altering his identity to… the Red Devils. But, to claim the name of a organization from the Western world was a futile endeavor. Any effort to do so prior to the end of communism, he would undoubtedly have faced imprisonment.

A Commitment Sealed by Fate

A decade after the political changes in Bulgaria – on that night in May 1999 – Marin's unique aspiration moved nearer to reality. Watching the final from his simple residence in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin vowed to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would go to any lengths to change his name that of the club he loved. Then, against all odds, it transpired.

He realized his ambition to see the Theatre of Dreams.

Years of Judicial Challenges

A day later, Marin consulted an attorney to express his unusual request, thus starting a grueling process. The parent who inspired him, from whom he had learned to support the club, was long gone, and the man in his thirties was living with his mother, taking on various types of work, including as a builder on minimal earnings. He was barely getting by, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He rapidly evolved into the subject of gossip, then was featured globally, but a decade and a half full of judicial disputes and discouraging rulings awaited him.

Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories

His request was rejected initially for copyright reasons: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a internationally recognized entity. Then a presiding magistrate granted a limited approval, saying Marin could alter his given name to Manchester but that he was prohibited from using United as his legal last name. “But I don’t want to be associated with just a place in England, I want to carry the title of my favourite football club,” Marin stated during proceedings. The struggle continued.

His Beloved Cats

Outside of legal proceedings, he was often tending to his pets. He had a large number in his garden in Svishtov and loved them as much as the Red Devils. He christened them after team stars: from Rio to Rooney, they were the celebrity pets in town. Which was the favourite cat of the name they used? The feline known as Beckham.

He was often seen in full club regalia.

Breakthroughs and Principles

He achieved a further success 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 entire name is Manchester United,” he vowed. His story soon led to financial opportunities – a chance to have fan merchandise branded with his legal name – but despite his financial struggles, he rejected the opportunity because he did not want to profit from his favourite club. The team's title was sacred to him.

Aspirations Fulfilled and Final Acts

His story was captured in 2011. The production team 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.

He inked the team emblem on his brow at a later date as a objection to the legal rulings and in his final years it became ever tougher for him to persist with his fight. Work was limited and he lost his mother to Covid-19. But against the odds, he persevered. Born as a Catholic, he was christened in an religious institution under the name his desired full name. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my true identity,” he often stated.

Earlier this week, his time ran out. Perhaps now Manchester United’s determined supporter could achieve eternal tranquility.