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Pose the question to any Manchester United supporter who is older regarding the significance of that fateful day in May 1999, and the answer will be that the occasion was life-altering. It was the moment when dramatic late goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær completed an incredible late turnaround in the showpiece event against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. Simultaneously, the existence of one loyal follower in Eastern Europe, who has died at the age of 62, changed forever.

Hopes in a Bygone Era

That supporter was born Marin Levidzhov in Svishtov, a place with a tight-knit community. Being raised in the former Eastern Bloc with a passion for football, he dreamed of legally altering his identity to… Manchester United. However, to take the name of a sports team from the capitalist west was mission impossible. Had Marin tried to do so prior to the end of communism, he would likely have ended up in jail.

A Promise Forged in Drama

Ten years after the end of communism in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's unique aspiration moved nearer to fulfillment. Watching the final from his modest home in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin vowed to himself: should his team mount a comeback, he would spare no effort to legally adopt the name that of the club he loved. Then, a miracle occurred.

A lifelong wish to walk the halls of the famous stadium came true.

The Long Legal Battle

The following morning, Marin sought legal counsel to express his unusual request, thus initiating a difficult fight. His dad, from whom he had inherited his love of United, was no longer alive, and the man in his thirties was residing with his mom, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a laborer on a meager daily wage. He was barely getting by, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He quickly turned into the talk of the town, then was featured globally, but many seasons full of judicial disputes and discouraging rulings were to come.

Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories

The application was rejected initially for trademark concerns: he was barred from using the title of a internationally recognized entity. Then a court official ruled partially in his favour, saying Marin could alter his given name to Manchester but that he was could not adopt United as his official surname. “But I don’t want to be associated with just a place in the UK, I want to wear the name of my beloved team,” Marin told the court. His fight went on.

His Beloved Cats

When not in court, he was often caring for his feline friends. He had a large number in his outdoor space in Svishtov and loved them as much as the Manchester United. He gave each one a name after team stars: including Ferdinand and Rooney, they were the celebrity pets in town. The one he loved most of his close friends' nickname for him? A kitty called Beckham.

Marin bedecked in United gear.

Advances and Ethics

He achieved a further success in court: he was granted the right to append United as an official nickname on his ID card. But still he wasn’t happy. “My efforts will persist until my entire name is as I desire,” he vowed. His narrative resulted in financial opportunities – an offer to have fan merchandise branded with his legal name – but although he was in need, he rejected the opportunity because he did not want to profit from his favourite club. The team's title was inviolable.

Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes

A film was made in that year. The filmmakers made his aspiration come true of seeing the iconic stadium and there he even met Dimitar Berbatov, the Bulgaria striker on the team's roster at the time.

Marin tattooed the United crest on his forehead three years later as a demonstration against the legal rulings and in his last few years it became more and more difficult for him to continue his legal battle. Employment was hard to find and he was bereaved to the virus. But somehow, he found a way. Originally of Catholic faith, he was christened in an orthodox church under the name his desired full name. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my chosen name,” he used to say.

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