A fan who devoted his entire 'youth' just to change his name to Manchester United

Bulgarian fan Marin Levidzhov, who legally adopted the name Manchester United, died at age 62, leaving an emotional legacy of unwavering devotion to the "Red Devils."

More than just a supporter, Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov, a Bulgarian man who recently passed at 62, was a living testament to unconditional love for Manchester United. His story transcends typical fandom, becoming a real-life legend.

Born in Svishtov, a small town on the Danube River, Marin grew up during Bulgaria's era when admiring a club like Manchester United seemed impossible. Yet, his passion for football was unstoppable. He nurtured an extraordinary dream: to bear the name of the team he loved, Manchester United.

The turning point came on the night of May 26, 1999, when MU defeated Bayern Munich 2-1 in the legendary Champions League final, thanks to late goals from Sheringham and Solskjaer. Witnessing that historic comeback, Marin vowed that if the "Red Devils" won, he would change his name to Manchester United—and thus began a 15-year-long battle.

The very next day, Marin approached a lawyer to file for the name change. However, his dream faced numerous legal obstacles. Bulgarian courts repeatedly rejected his request due to trademark issues. One judge later allowed him to change his first name to Manchester but forbade using "United" as his surname. Marin strongly opposed this: “I don’t want to carry the name of an English city. I want to carry the name of the team in my heart.”

While awaiting decisions, Marin lived simply with his mother and cats named after MU legends like Rooney, Rio, and Beckham. Despite manual labor and low income, he remained determined to pursue his dream despite ridicule. Eventually, he won a small victory: permission to add "United" as a legal nickname on his ID.

Marin’s journey quickly attracted international media attention. In 2011, a documentary capturing his unusual quest was released, taking him to Old Trafford where he met Dimitar Berbatov, his compatriot and idol playing for the "Red Devils." That was the most sacred moment of his life.

In his later years, Marin tattooed the MU logo on his forehead as an act of defiance and symbol of absolute loyalty. Losing his job and his mother to Covid-19, he still persistently claimed the name "Manchester United."

On October 13, 2025, Marin’s heart stopped beating. But for millions of football fans, "Manchester United" in Bulgaria will forever remain a symbol of undying loyalty—the man who made his love for the club his very identity.