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Ask any Man United supporter from an earlier generation concerning the significance of 26 May 1999, and the answer will be that the night changed them forever. It was the evening when last-minute strikes from Sheringham and Solskjær sealed an incredible come-from-behind victory in the European Cup final against Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou. Simultaneously, the world of one United fan in Bulgaria, who passed away at the 62 years old, took a new direction.

Aspirations Under Communism

The fan in question was born Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in his hometown, a place with a modest number of residents. Growing up in a socialist state with a passion for football, he aspired to adopting a new name to… the Red Devils. However, to claim the name of a organization from the capitalist west was mission impossible. If he had attempted to do so before the fall of the regime, he would almost certainly have faced imprisonment.

A Vow Made Under Pressure

Ten years after the fall of the regime in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's unique aspiration moved nearer to achievement. Viewing the match from his humble abode in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin swore an oath to himself: should his team mount a comeback, he would go to any lengths to legally adopt the name that of the club he loved. Then, the impossible happened.

Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.

A Protracted Court Struggle

The following morning, Marin consulted an attorney to present his unique case, thus beginning a long, hard battle. Marin’s father, from whom he had learned to support the club, was long gone, and the 36-year-old was living with his mother, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a builder on a meager daily wage. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his dream became an obsession. He rapidly evolved into the talk of the town, then became an international sensation, but many seasons full of judicial disputes and setbacks in litigation awaited him.

Trademark Issues and Limited Success

Marin’s wish was rejected initially for intellectual property issues: he was barred from using the title of a internationally recognized entity. Then a local judge granted a limited approval, saying Marin could modify his forename to Manchester but that he was not to use United as his family name. “But I don’t want to be named after a city in Britain, I want to carry the title of my favourite football club,” Marin stated during proceedings. The battle persisted.

A Life with Feline Friends

Outside of legal proceedings, he was often tending to his pets. He had many animals in his outdoor space in Svishtov and loved them as much as the Red Devils. He christened them after club legends: from Rio to Rooney, they were the best-known felines in town. The one he loved most of the name they used? A kitty called Beckham.

Marin bedecked in United gear.

Progress and Integrity

Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was granted the right to append the club name as an legal alternative on his identification document. But still he wasn’t happy. “I won’t stop until my full name is as I desire,” he vowed. His story soon led to business offers – a chance to have club products made using his identity – but although he was in need, he rejected the opportunity because he refused to make money from his favourite club. The team's title was sacred to him.

Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes

A film was made in 2011. The filmmakers made his aspiration come true of visiting Old Trafford and there he even encountered Dimitar Berbatov, the forward on the team's roster at the time.

Permanently marked the club badge on his brow at a later date as a objection to the judicial outcomes and in his final years it became more and more difficult for him to continue his legal battle. Work was limited and he lost 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. “In the eyes of the divine, I am with my chosen name,” he would frequently remark.

On a recent Monday, his life came to an end. It is possible that Manchester United’s restless soul could at last be at rest.