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Inquire of any Man United devotee from an earlier generation regarding the significance of May 26th, 1999, and they'll recount that the date left an indelible mark. It was the night when injury-time goals from Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær completed an stunning 2-1 comeback in the showpiece event against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. It was also, the world of one devoted supporter in Eastern Europe, who passed away at the 62 years old, changed forever.

Hopes in a Bygone Era

That supporter was originally called Marin Levidzhov in his hometown, a place with a population of 22,000. Living in communist Bulgaria with a love of football, he dreamed of changing his name to… his beloved club. Yet, to claim the name of a sports team 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 been arrested.

A Vow Made Under Pressure

Ten years after the political changes in Bulgaria – on that night in May 1999 – Marin's personal goal moved nearer to achievement. Viewing the match from his modest home in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin made a promise to himself: if United somehow turned the game around, he would spare no effort to change his name that of the team he adored. Then, the impossible happened.

Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.

A Protracted Court Struggle

The following morning, Marin consulted an attorney to express his unusual request, thus beginning a long, hard battle. Marin’s father, from whom he had inherited his love of United, was no longer alive, and the 36-year-old was residing with his mom, employed in miscellaneous roles, including as a builder on minimal earnings. He was barely getting by, yet his dream became an obsession. He quickly turned into the subject of gossip, then was featured globally, but a decade and a half full of legal battles and disheartening court decisions were to come.

Legal Obstacles and Small Wins

The application was denied early on for copyright reasons: he was barred from using the title of a world-famous brand. Then a presiding magistrate ruled partially in his favour, saying Marin could modify his forename to the city name but that he was could not adopt the second part as his family name. “However, I desire to be named after a city in England, I want to wear the name of my beloved team,” Marin told the court. The battle persisted.

His Beloved Cats

When not in court, he was often looking after his cats. He had a large number in his garden in Svishtov and held them in the same esteem as the Red Devils. He named them all after United players: including Ferdinand and Rooney, they were the most famous cats in town. Who was his preferred pet of the name they used? One named after David Beckham.

Marin bedecked in United gear.

Progress and Integrity

Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was granted the right to append United as an legal alternative on his personal papers. But still he wasn’t happy. “I will continue until my full name is the club's title,” he declared. His story soon led to commercial propositions – a chance to have club products made using his identity – but even with his monetary challenges, he declined the proposal because he was unwilling to gain financially from his adored institution. The Manchester United name was beyond commercial use.

Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes

His story was captured in 2011. The production team turned Marin’s dream of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even met Dimitar Berbatov, the national team player on the team's roster at the time.

He inked the club badge on his brow at a later date as a demonstration against the legal rulings and in his closing chapter it became more and more difficult for him to continue his legal battle. Employment was hard to find and he suffered the death of his mother to the pandemic. But somehow, he found a way. Born as a Catholic, he underwent baptism in an orthodox church under the name his desired full name. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my true identity,” he would frequently remark.

Earlier this week, his time ran out. Maybe at last the club's determined supporter could finally find peace.