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Pose the question to any United supporter of a certain age regarding the meaning of that fateful day in May 1999, and they will tell you that the night changed them forever. It was the night when injury-time goals from Sheringham and Solskjær secured an unbelievable come-from-behind victory in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich at the famous Barcelona stadium. That same night, the world of one loyal follower in Bulgaria, who has died at the age of 62, changed forever.

Hopes in a Bygone Era

The fan in question was given the name Marin Levidzhov in a small Danube town, a settlement with a tight-knit community. Living in the former Eastern Bloc with a passion for football, he aspired to changing his name to… the Red Devils. Yet, to claim the name of a football club from the capitalist west was mission impossible. Any effort to do so prior to the end of communism, he would undoubtedly have been arrested.

A Promise Forged in Drama

Many seasons after the political changes in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's unique aspiration edged closer to reality. Watching the final from his modest home in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin made a promise to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would do anything to change his name that of the club he loved. Then, against all odds, it transpired.

Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.

Years of Judicial Challenges

The next day, Marin consulted an attorney to present his unique case, thus starting a grueling process. Marin’s father, from whom he had inherited his love of United, was long gone, and the man in his thirties was living with his mother, employed in miscellaneous roles, including as a laborer on minimal earnings. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He soon became the subject of gossip, then gained worldwide attention, but 15 years full of court cases and discouraging rulings were to come.

Legal Obstacles and Small Wins

The application was rejected initially for trademark concerns: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a trademark known around the globe. Then a local judge ruled partially in his favour, saying Marin could alter his given name to the city name but that he was could not adopt the second part as his legal last name. “But I don’t want to be associated with just a place in Britain, I want to wear the name of my cherished club,” Marin stated during proceedings. The battle persisted.

Companions in Adversity

During breaks from litigation, he was often looking after his cats. He had many animals in his outdoor space in Svishtov and held them in the same esteem as the his team. He named them all after club legends: such as Vidic and others, they were the best-known felines in town. Which was the favourite cat of Man U? The feline known as Beckham.

Marin bedecked in United gear.

Breakthroughs and Principles

He achieved a further success in court: he was allowed to add United as an recognized alias on his ID card. But this did not satisfy him. “My efforts will persist until my entire name is Manchester United,” he promised. His story soon led to commercial propositions – an offer to have supporters' goods branded with his legal name – but although he was in need, he declined the proposal because he was unwilling to gain financially from his adored institution. The club's identity was inviolable.

Aspirations Fulfilled and Final Acts

A documentary followed in that year. The crew made his aspiration come true of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even had the chance to see his compatriot, the national team player on the team's roster at the time.

Marin tattooed the team emblem on his forehead 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. Employment was hard to find and he lost his mother to the pandemic. But against the odds, he persevered. Originally of Catholic faith, he was christened in an religious institution under the name Manchester United Zdravkov Levidzhov. “At least God will know me with my true identity,” he would frequently remark.

This Monday, 13 October, his life came to an end. It is possible that Manchester United’s persistent fan could achieve eternal tranquility.