Sunil Thakur (left) gets a Manchester United jersey autographed by Ryan Giggs

The year 2007 was a turbulent period in the United States. Among the Americans, who endured the pain of being rendered jobless by the recession, was an Indian who came back to India against family advice. He couldn't bag a decent job and was termed a loser — until he started his own business. He ticked another item off his wish list, when he became a prominent member of Manchester United Fan Club of Mumbai (MUFCM) — the president of the Manchester United Supporter's Club. Sunil Thakur (35) dodged several bullets en route to the life of a pub-owner.