🔗 Share this article

Ask any United devotee from an earlier generation regarding the significance of that fateful day in May 1999, and they will tell you that the occasion left an indelible mark. It was the evening when dramatic late goals from Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær sealed an unbelievable come-from-behind victory in the Champions League final against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. That same night, the existence of one loyal follower in Eastern Europe, who recently died at the age of 62, took a new direction.

A Dream Born in Communist Bulgaria

This individual was born Marin Levidzhov in his hometown, a community with a modest number of residents. Being raised in the former Eastern Bloc with a passion for football, he longed to legally altering his identity to… the Red Devils. But, to claim the name of a football club from the capitalist west was mission impossible. If he had attempted to do so before the fall of the regime, he would almost certainly have been arrested.

A Commitment Sealed by Fate

Many seasons after the political changes in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's personal goal edged closer to reality. Tuning in from home from his modest home in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin made a promise to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would spare no effort to become known as 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.

Years of Judicial Challenges

The next day, Marin consulted an attorney to present his unique case, thus starting a grueling process. His dad, from whom he had learned to support the club, was long gone, 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 hardly making ends meet, yet his dream became an obsession. He soon became the subject of gossip, then became an international sensation, but a decade and a half full of legal battles and disheartening court decisions awaited him.

Legal Obstacles and Small Wins

Marin’s wish was turned down at first for intellectual property issues: he was barred from using the title of a trademark known around the globe. Then a presiding magistrate granted a limited approval, saying Marin could change his first name to Manchester but that he was not to use United as his family name. “Yet my aim is to be named after a city in Britain, I want to carry the title of my beloved team,” Marin stated during proceedings. The battle persisted.

Companions in Adversity

During breaks from litigation, he was often caring for his feline friends. He had a large number in his outdoor space in Svishtov and loved them as much as the his team. He named them all after team stars: including Ferdinand and Rooney, they were the most famous cats in town. Which was the favourite cat of the name they used? One named after David Beckham.

He was often seen in full club regalia.

Progress and Integrity

Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was permitted to include United as an official nickname on his ID card. But still he wasn’t happy. “I won’t stop until my entire name is as I desire,” he vowed. His tale attracted business offers – a chance to have fan merchandise produced under his new name – but although he was in need, he declined the proposal because he did not want to profit from his adored institution. The team's title was sacred to him.

Goals Achieved and Enduring Symbols

A documentary followed in 2011. The filmmakers turned Marin’s dream of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even met his compatriot, the national team player playing for United at the time.

He inked the club badge on his brow subsequently as a demonstration against the court decisions and in his final years it became more and more difficult for him to keep up the struggle. Work was limited and he was bereaved to the pandemic. But he managed to continue. By birth a Catholic, he got baptised in an Eastern Orthodox church under the name Manchester United Zdravkov Levidzhov. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my real name,” he often stated.

This Monday, 13 October, his life came to an end. Maybe at last the club's persistent fan could at last be at rest.