🔗 Share this article My Name Is Manchester United: This Die-Hard Supporter Who Struggled to Alter His Legal Name Inquire of any United supporter from an earlier generation concerning the importance of May 26th, 1999, and they will tell you that the date left an indelible mark. It was the night when injury-time goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær secured an unbelievable late turnaround in the showpiece event against Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou. It was also, the existence of one devoted supporter in Eastern Europe, who recently died at the age of 62, changed forever. Hopes in a Bygone Era That supporter was born Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in Svishtov, a place with a tight-knit community. Growing up in communist Bulgaria with a passion for football, he longed to adopting a new name to… the Red Devils. Yet, to adopt the name of a organization 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 likely have been arrested. A Vow Made Under Pressure Many seasons after the fall of the regime in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's unique aspiration came one step closer to achievement. Watching the final from his humble abode in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin vowed to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would do anything to legally adopt the name that of the team he adored. Then, a miracle occurred. A lifelong wish to walk the halls of the famous stadium came true. Years of Judicial Challenges The next day, Marin visited a lawyer to express his unusual request, thus starting a grueling process. Marin’s father, from whom he had inherited his love of United, was no longer alive, and the man in his thirties was residing with his mom, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a laborer on £15 a day. He was struggling financially, yet his goal turned into a fixation. He quickly turned into the local celebrity, then was featured globally, but many seasons full of court cases and disheartening court decisions lay ahead. Legal Obstacles and Small Wins His request was turned down at first for intellectual property issues: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a world-famous brand. Then a presiding magistrate granted a limited approval, saying Marin could alter his given name to the city name but that he was not to use the second part as his family name. “Yet my aim is to be associated with just a place in England, I want to carry the title of my beloved team,” Marin stated during proceedings. The battle persisted. A Life with Feline Friends When not in court, he was often looking after his cats. He had plenty of them in his back yard 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. Who was his preferred pet 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 United as an official nickname on his ID card. But he remained dissatisfied. “I will continue until my full name is as I desire,” he promised. His story soon led to commercial propositions – a proposal to have fan merchandise made using his identity – but although he was in need, he rejected the opportunity because he did not want to profit from his adored institution. The Manchester United name was beyond commercial use. Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes A documentary followed in that year. The filmmakers made his aspiration come true of seeing the iconic stadium and there he even had the chance to see his compatriot, the national team player then at the club at the time. Permanently marked the United crest on his forehead subsequently as a protest against the legal rulings and in his closing chapter it became more and more difficult for him to continue his legal battle. Employment was hard to find and he lost his mother to the virus. But against the odds, he persevered. Born as a Catholic, he was christened in an orthodox church under the name Manchester United Zdravkov Levidzhov. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my true identity,” he would frequently remark. Earlier this week, his time ran out. Maybe at last Manchester United’s determined supporter could achieve eternal tranquility.