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Inquire of any Manchester United fan from an earlier generation concerning the importance of 26 May 1999, and they'll recount that the occasion changed them forever. It was the evening when injury-time goals from Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær sealed an unbelievable 2-1 comeback in the showpiece event against Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou. Simultaneously, the world of one United fan in Bulgaria, who passed away at the age of 62, took a new direction.

Hopes in a Bygone Era

The fan in question was given the name Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in Svishtov, a place with a modest number of residents. Living in communist Bulgaria with a passion for football, he dreamed of legally altering his identity to… the Red Devils. However, to claim the name of a football club from the other side of the Iron Curtain was mission impossible. If he had attempted to do so during the socialist era, he would almost certainly have faced imprisonment.

A Promise Forged in Drama

Many seasons after the political changes in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's idiosyncratic dream edged closer to reality. Viewing the match from his modest home in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin swore an oath to himself: if United somehow turned the game around, he would spare no effort to become known as that of the team he adored. Then, the impossible happened.

He realized his ambition to see the Theatre of Dreams.

Years of Judicial Challenges

The following morning, 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 man in his thirties was caring for his parent, employed in miscellaneous roles, including as a laborer on £15 a day. He was struggling financially, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He rapidly evolved into the local celebrity, then became an international sensation, but 15 years full of judicial disputes and discouraging rulings were to come.

Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories

His request was denied early on for intellectual property issues: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a trademark known around the globe. Then a presiding magistrate allowed a compromise, saying Marin could alter his given name to Manchester but that he was could not adopt the second part as his official surname. “However, I desire to be named after a city in England, I want to carry the title of my cherished club,” Marin told the court. His fight went on.

His Beloved Cats

During breaks from litigation, he was often caring for his feline friends. He had a large number in his garden in Svishtov and loved them as much as the Manchester United. He gave each one a name after club legends: including Ferdinand and Rooney, they were the most famous cats in town. Which was the favourite cat of his close friends' nickname for him? The feline known as Beckham.

Marin bedecked in United gear.

Advances and Ethics

Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was permitted to include United as an official nickname on his identification document. But he remained dissatisfied. “I won’t stop until my full name is Manchester United,” he vowed. His tale attracted commercial propositions – a chance to have supporters' goods made using his identity – but although he was in need, he rejected the opportunity because he was unwilling to gain financially from his beloved team. The team's title was beyond commercial use.

Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes

A documentary followed in 2011. The production team fulfilled his wish of seeing the iconic stadium and there he even encountered the Bulgarian striker, the national team player playing for United at the time.

He inked the team emblem on his forehead three years later as a objection to the court decisions and in his closing chapter it became ever tougher for him to continue his legal battle. Job opportunities were scarce and he suffered the death of his mother to the pandemic. But against the odds, he persevered. Born as a Catholic, he underwent baptism in an Eastern Orthodox church under the name Manchester United Zdravkov Levidzhov. “At least God will know me with my chosen name,” he would frequently remark.

Earlier this week, his life came to an end. Perhaps now the club's restless soul could finally find peace.