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Pose the question to any United devotee of a certain age about the significance of May 26th, 1999, and they will tell you that the occasion changed them forever. It was the moment when injury-time goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær secured an unbelievable 2-1 comeback in the showpiece event against Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou. Simultaneously, the existence of one United fan in Bulgaria, who recently died at the 62 years old, took a new direction.

Aspirations Under Communism

That supporter was given the name Marin Levidzhov in his hometown, a place with a modest number of residents. Living in a socialist state with a devotion to football, he aspired to adopting a new name to… his beloved club. However, to claim the name of a organization from the Western world was mission impossible. Had Marin tried to do so during the socialist era, he would likely have been arrested.

A Vow Made Under Pressure

Ten years after the end of communism in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's idiosyncratic dream moved nearer to achievement. Watching the final from his modest home in Svishtov and with his team losing, Marin swore an oath to himself: if United somehow turned the game around, he would go to any lengths to change his name that of the club he loved. Then, a miracle occurred.

He realized his ambition to see the Theatre of Dreams.

Years of Judicial Challenges

The following morning, Marin sought legal counsel to state his extraordinary desire, thus starting a grueling process. His dad, from whom he had learned to support the club, was deceased, and the man in his thirties was caring for his parent, taking on various types of work, including as a builder on a meager daily wage. He was struggling financially, yet his dream became an obsession. He rapidly evolved into the subject of gossip, then became an international sensation, but 15 years full of court cases and setbacks in litigation were to come.

Legal Obstacles and Small Wins

The application was rejected initially for copyright reasons: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a internationally recognized entity. Then a presiding magistrate granted a limited approval, saying Marin could alter his given name to Manchester but that he was could not adopt the second part as his family name. “But I don’t want to be identified with an urban area in England, I want to bear the identity of my beloved team,” Marin stated during proceedings. The struggle continued.

A Life with Feline Friends

Outside of legal proceedings, he was often looking after his cats. He had a large number in his outdoor space in Svishtov and loved them as much as the Red Devils. He christened them after United players: including Ferdinand and Rooney, they were the celebrity pets in town. Who was his preferred pet of his close friends' nickname for him? One named after David Beckham.

Marin bedecked in United gear.

Advances and Ethics

Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was permitted to include the club name as an legal alternative on his ID card. But this did not satisfy him. “I will continue until my full name is the club's title,” he promised. His story soon led to business offers – an offer to have supporters' goods branded with his legal name – but despite his financial struggles, he turned down the offer because he did not want to profit from his favourite club. The Manchester United name was sacred to him.

Goals Achieved and Enduring Symbols

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 encountered Dimitar Berbatov, the Bulgaria striker playing for United at the time.

He inked the club badge on his brow at a later date as a demonstration against the court decisions and in his last few years it became ever tougher for him to continue his legal battle. Job opportunities were scarce and he was bereaved to the pandemic. But he managed to continue. Born as a Catholic, he got baptised in an religious institution under the name the identity he sought. “In the eyes of the divine, I am with my chosen name,” he often stated.

This Monday, 13 October, his time ran out. It is possible that the club's persistent fan could finally find peace.