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Inquire of any Manchester United devotee of a certain age regarding the meaning of that fateful day in May 1999, and they will tell you that the date was life-altering. It was the evening when dramatic late goals from Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær sealed an stunning come-from-behind victory in the showpiece event against Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou. That same night, the life of one United fan in Bulgaria, who passed away at the age of 62, was transformed.

Aspirations Under Communism

This individual was originally called Marin Levidzhov in his hometown, a settlement with a population of 22,000. Being raised in the former Eastern Bloc with a passion for football, he aspired to legally altering his identity to… his beloved club. However, to claim the name of a organization from the capitalist west was mission impossible. Had Marin tried to do so prior to the end of communism, he would undoubtedly have ended up in jail.

A Vow Made Under Pressure

Ten years after the end of communism in Bulgaria – on that night in May 1999 – Marin's personal goal edged closer to achievement. Viewing the match from his humble abode in Svishtov and with his team losing, Marin swore an oath to himself: if United somehow turned the game around, he would do anything to become known as that of the club he loved. Then, against all odds, it transpired.

He realized his ambition to see the Theatre of Dreams.

Years of Judicial Challenges

The next day, Marin sought legal counsel to express his unusual request, thus beginning a long, hard battle. His dad, from whom he had learned to support the club, was no longer alive, and the 36-year-old was residing with his mom, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a laborer on minimal earnings. He was struggling financially, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He rapidly evolved into the subject of gossip, then was featured globally, but a decade and a half full of judicial disputes and disheartening court decisions awaited him.

Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories

Marin’s wish was turned down at first for intellectual property issues: he was barred from using the title of a trademark known around the globe. Then a local judge allowed a compromise, saying Marin could change his first name to Manchester but that he was not to use the second part as his legal last name. “But I don’t want to be associated with just a place in England, I want to wear the name of my beloved team,” Marin told the court. His fight went on.

Companions in Adversity

Outside of legal proceedings, he was often tending to his pets. He had many animals in his garden in Svishtov and loved them as much as the Red Devils. He gave each one a name after United players: including Ferdinand and Rooney, they were the celebrity pets in town. Who was his preferred pet of the name they used? A kitty called Beckham.

He was often seen in full club regalia.

Breakthroughs and Principles

He achieved a further success in court: he was permitted to include the club name as an official nickname on his ID card. But he remained dissatisfied. “I will continue until my complete identity is Manchester United,” he declared. His tale attracted financial opportunities – a proposal to have supporters' goods produced under his new name – but even with his monetary challenges, he rejected the opportunity because he did not want to profit from his favourite club. The Manchester United name was inviolable.

Aspirations Fulfilled and Final Acts

His story was captured in that year. The production team fulfilled his wish of seeing the iconic stadium and there he even had the chance to see Dimitar Berbatov, the national team player on the team's roster at the time.

Marin tattooed the United crest 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 persist with his fight. Employment was hard to find and he suffered the death of his mother to Covid-19. But somehow, he found a way. By birth a Catholic, he was christened in an orthodox church under the name the identity he sought. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my true identity,” he would frequently remark.

This Monday, 13 October, his heart stopped beating. Perhaps now Manchester United’s restless soul could achieve eternal tranquility.