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Ask any Man United devotee from an earlier generation about the significance of 26 May 1999, and the answer will be that the occasion changed them forever. It was the moment when dramatic late goals from Sheringham and Solskjær sealed an unbelievable 2-1 comeback in the European Cup final against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. Simultaneously, the life of one United fan in Bulgaria, who has died at the age of 62, was transformed.

Aspirations Under Communism

That supporter was given the name Marin Levidzhov in Svishtov, a settlement with a population of 22,000. Growing up in a socialist state with a devotion to football, he aspired to adopting a new name to… Manchester United. Yet, to claim the name of a football club from the capitalist west was an unattainable goal. Had Marin tried to do so prior to the end of communism, he would almost certainly have faced imprisonment.

A Commitment Sealed by Fate

Ten years after the fall of the regime in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's personal goal moved nearer to reality. Tuning in from home from his humble abode in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin made a promise to himself: should his team mount a comeback, he would do anything to legally adopt the name that of the club he loved. Then, a miracle occurred.

Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.

Years of Judicial Challenges

The following morning, Marin sought legal counsel to state his extraordinary desire, thus starting a grueling process. Marin’s father, from whom he had learned to support the club, was long gone, and the 36-year-old was caring for his parent, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a construction worker on a meager daily wage. He was barely getting by, yet his goal turned into a fixation. He soon became the talk of the town, then was featured globally, but 15 years full of legal battles and setbacks in litigation awaited him.

Legal Obstacles and Small Wins

His request 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 Manchester but that he was prohibited from using United as his legal last name. “However, I desire to be identified with an urban area in the UK, I want to carry the title of my cherished club,” Marin stated during proceedings. His fight went on.

A Life with Feline Friends

Outside of legal proceedings, he was often looking after his cats. He had plenty of them in his garden in Svishtov and cherished them equally with the Manchester United. He christened them after United players: including Ferdinand and Rooney, they were the celebrity pets in town. Which was the favourite cat of his close friends' nickname for him? The feline known as Beckham.

His attire consistently showed his allegiance.

Advances and Ethics

Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was granted the right to append United as an official nickname on his personal papers. But still he wasn’t happy. “My efforts will persist until my complete identity is the club's title,” he declared. His story soon led to business offers – an offer to have club products made using his identity – but even with his monetary challenges, he rejected the opportunity because he did not want to profit from his beloved team. The club's identity was inviolable.

Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes

His story was captured in 2011. The crew made his aspiration come true of visiting Old Trafford and there he even had the chance to see the Bulgarian striker, the forward playing for United at the time.

Permanently marked the United crest 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 persist with his fight. Work was limited and he suffered the death of his mother to Covid-19. But against the odds, he persevered. Born as a Catholic, he got baptised in an orthodox church under the name Manchester United Zdravkov Levidzhov. “At least God will know me with my chosen name,” he used to say.

This Monday, 13 October, his time ran out. Perhaps now the club's persistent fan could finally find peace.