🔗 Share this article I Go By MUFC: The Superfan Who Battled to Change His Identity Inquire of any United fan of a certain age concerning the significance of 26 May 1999, and the answer will be that the date was life-altering. It was the evening when dramatic late goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær sealed an stunning late turnaround in the European Cup final against the German giants at the Camp Nou. It was also, the life of one loyal follower in Eastern Europe, who recently died at the 62 years old, took a new direction. A Dream Born in Communist Bulgaria That supporter was given the name Marin Levidzhov in his hometown, a settlement with a tight-knit community. Growing up in the former Eastern Bloc with a love of football, he longed to legally altering his identity to… Manchester United. Yet, to claim the name of a football club from the other side of the Iron Curtain was a futile endeavor. Had Marin tried to do so before the fall of the regime, 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 personal goal moved nearer to reality. Viewing the match from his humble abode in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin swore an oath to himself: should his team mount a comeback, he would do anything to change his name that of the object of his devotion. Then, against all odds, it transpired. A lifelong wish to walk the halls of the famous stadium came true. A Protracted Court Struggle A day later, Marin consulted an attorney to present his unique case, thus initiating a difficult fight. Marin’s father, from whom he had learned to support the club, was long gone, and the 36-year-old was caring for his parent, taking on various types of work, including as a builder on £15 a day. He was struggling financially, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He quickly turned into the subject of gossip, then became an international sensation, but many seasons full of legal battles and disheartening court decisions lay ahead. Legal Obstacles and Small Wins His request was turned down at first for trademark concerns: he was barred from using the title of a internationally recognized entity. Then a presiding magistrate ruled partially in his favour, saying Marin could modify his forename to the city name but that he was could not adopt United as his legal last name. “Yet my aim is to be identified with an urban area in England, I want to bear the identity of my favourite football club,” Marin informed the judge. The battle persisted. A Life with Feline Friends During breaks from litigation, he was often caring for his feline friends. He had a large number in his garden in Svishtov and cherished them equally with the his team. He christened them after team stars: such as Vidic and others, they were the celebrity pets in town. The one he loved most of the name they used? One named after David Beckham. Marin bedecked in United gear. Advances and Ethics Another victory was secured in court: he was allowed to add United as an recognized alias on his personal papers. But still he wasn’t happy. “My efforts will persist until my complete identity is Manchester United,” he vowed. His narrative resulted in financial opportunities – an offer to have fan merchandise branded with his legal name – but although he was in need, he declined the proposal because he did not want to profit from his favourite club. The club's identity was inviolable. Goals Achieved and Enduring Symbols A film was made in 2011. The production team fulfilled his wish of visiting Old Trafford and there he even encountered the Bulgarian striker, the forward playing for United at the time. Permanently marked the United crest on his forehead three years later as a demonstration against the legal rulings and in his closing chapter it became ever tougher for him to continue his legal battle. Work was limited and he suffered the death of his mother to the virus. But he managed to continue. Born as a Catholic, he was christened in an Eastern Orthodox church under the name Manchester United Zdravkov Levidzhov. “In the eyes of the divine, I am with my real name,” he would frequently remark. On a recent Monday, his heart stopped beating. It is possible that the club's restless soul could finally find peace.