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Pose the question to any Man United devotee who is older concerning the significance of that fateful day in May 1999, and the answer will be that the night left an indelible mark. It was the moment when injury-time goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær sealed an incredible 2-1 comeback in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich at the famous Barcelona stadium. It was also, the existence of one devoted supporter in Bulgaria, who has died at the 62 years old, took a new direction.

Aspirations Under Communism

The fan in question was originally called Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in Svishtov, a community with a modest number of residents. Being raised in a socialist state with a passion for football, he dreamed of legally altering his identity to… his beloved club. Yet, to claim the name of a football club from the Western world was an unattainable goal. If he had attempted to do so prior to the end of communism, he would likely have been arrested.

A Promise Forged in Drama

A decade after the fall of the regime in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's personal goal came one step closer to reality. Tuning in from home from his modest home in Svishtov and with his team losing, Marin vowed to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would go to any lengths to change his name that of the object of his devotion. Then, against all odds, it transpired.

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

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 gained his fandom, was long gone, and the 36-year-old was living with his mother, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a builder on minimal earnings. He was struggling financially, yet his dream became an obsession. He soon became the talk of the town, then became an international sensation, but 15 years full of court cases and discouraging rulings lay ahead.

Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories

The application was denied early on for copyright reasons: he was barred from using the title of a trademark known around the globe. Then a court official allowed a compromise, saying Marin could alter his given name to the city name 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 stated during proceedings. The struggle continued.

Companions in Adversity

Outside of legal proceedings, he was often caring for his feline friends. He had many animals in his back yard in Svishtov and cherished them equally with the his team. He named them all after team stars: such as Vidic and others, they were the best-known felines in town. The one he loved most of his close friends' nickname for him? A kitty called Beckham.

Marin bedecked in United gear.

Breakthroughs and Principles

Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was granted the right to append the club name as an recognized alias on his ID card. But still he wasn’t happy. “I will continue until my entire name is the club's title,” he vowed. His narrative resulted in business offers – a proposal to have supporters' goods made using his identity – but despite his financial struggles, he rejected the opportunity because he refused to make money from his adored institution. The team's title was inviolable.

Aspirations Fulfilled and Final Acts

His story was captured in 2011. The production team made his aspiration come true of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even encountered his compatriot, the Bulgaria striker then at the club at the time.

Marin tattooed the team emblem on his forehead at a later date as a demonstration against the legal rulings and in his final years 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 the pandemic. But he managed to continue. By birth a Catholic, he was christened in an Eastern Orthodox church under the name the identity he sought. “At least God will know me with my chosen name,” he often stated.

Earlier this week, his life came to an end. It is possible that Manchester United’s restless soul could at last be at rest.