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Ask any United devotee of a certain age regarding the importance of that fateful day in May 1999, and they will tell you that the occasion was life-altering. It was the moment when dramatic late goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær completed an unbelievable come-from-behind victory in the European Cup final against the German giants at the Camp Nou. It was also, the world of one devoted supporter in Bulgaria, who passed away at the 62 years old, took a new direction.

Aspirations Under Communism

This individual was born Marin Levidzhov in a small Danube town, a settlement with a population of 22,000. Growing up in communist Bulgaria with a devotion to football, he dreamed of legally altering his identity to… Manchester United. Yet, to claim the name of a football club from the Western world was a futile endeavor. If he had attempted to do so prior to the end of communism, he would undoubtedly have ended up in jail.

A Commitment Sealed by Fate

Ten years after the end of communism in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's personal goal moved nearer to achievement. Watching the final from his modest home in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin vowed to himself: if United somehow turned the game around, he would go to any lengths to change his name that of the team he adored. Then, a miracle occurred.

He realized his ambition to see the Theatre of Dreams.

Years of Judicial Challenges

A day later, Marin consulted an attorney to present his unique case, thus initiating a difficult fight. His dad, from whom he had inherited his love of United, was deceased, and the 36-year-old was living with his mother, taking on various types of work, including as a construction worker on £15 a day. He was barely getting by, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He rapidly evolved into the local celebrity, then gained worldwide attention, but 15 years full of judicial disputes and discouraging rulings were to come.

Trademark Issues and Limited Success

Marin’s wish was rejected initially for intellectual property issues: he was barred from using the title of a world-famous brand. Then a local judge granted a limited approval, saying Marin could modify his forename to the city name but that he was could not adopt United as his official surname. “Yet my aim is to be identified with an urban area in the UK, I want to wear the name of my cherished club,” Marin informed the judge. The struggle continued.

A Life with Feline Friends

During breaks from litigation, he was often looking after his cats. He had a large number in his garden in Svishtov and cherished them equally with the his team. He gave each one a name after club legends: from Rio to Rooney, they were the celebrity pets in town. Which was the favourite cat of Man U? A kitty called Beckham.

Marin bedecked in United gear.

Breakthroughs and Principles

Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was permitted to include United as an official nickname on his personal papers. But he remained dissatisfied. “I will continue until my entire name is the club's title,” he declared. His tale attracted financial opportunities – a chance to have club products made using his identity – but although he was in need, he rejected the opportunity because he was unwilling to gain financially from his favourite club. The club's identity was sacred to him.

Aspirations Fulfilled and Final Acts

A film was made in that year. The production team made his aspiration come true of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even had the chance to see Dimitar Berbatov, the forward then at the club at the time.

He inked the team emblem on his face subsequently as a protest against the court decisions and in his last few years it became more and more difficult for him to keep up the struggle. Work was limited and he suffered the death of his mother to Covid-19. But somehow, he found a way. By birth a Catholic, he got baptised in an religious institution under the name his desired full name. “At least God will know me with my real name,” he would frequently remark.

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