After the 1999 Champions League final, when United made a legendary comeback against Bayern Munich, Marin promised himself that if the team won, he would do anything to change the name. Thus began his 15-year struggle with the bureaucracy.
At first, the court refused – due to copyright. Later, the name Manchester was allowed, but not United.
“I don’t want to be named after the city, I want to bear the name of the club,” Levizhov said.
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He lived in the city of Svishtov, worked in construction, took care of cats, which he named after United players – Rooney, Rio, Beckham. In 2011, a documentary was made about him – a fan visited Old Trafford and met Dimitar Berbatov.
In 2014, he tattooed the club’s emblem on his forehead as a sign of protest against the court’s decision. And later, after the death of his mother and difficulties in life, he found a way to fulfill his dream – he was baptized in the Orthodox church under the name of Manchester United Zdravkov Levizhov.
“At least God will know me by my real name,” he said.
On October 13, Marin’s heart stopped. But for United fans, he will forever remain a man who truly lived up to the name of his club.
Source: sport.ua