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Pose the question to any Man United supporter from an earlier generation regarding the meaning of 26 May 1999, and the answer will be that the occasion left an indelible mark. It was the evening when dramatic late goals from Teddy Sheringham and Solskjær secured an stunning 2-1 comeback in the showpiece event against Bayern Munich at the famous Barcelona stadium. It was also, the world of one loyal follower in Bulgaria, who recently died at the 62 years old, changed forever.

A Dream Born in Communist Bulgaria

The fan in question was given the name Marin Levidzhov in his hometown, a settlement with a modest number of residents. Living in a socialist state with a devotion to football, he dreamed of legally altering his identity to… Manchester United. Yet, to claim the name of a football club from the capitalist west was an unattainable goal. Had Marin tried to do so before the fall of the regime, he would likely have faced imprisonment.

A Commitment Sealed by Fate

Ten years after the political changes in Bulgaria – on that night in May 1999 – Marin's idiosyncratic dream moved nearer to reality. Watching the final from his modest home in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin vowed to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would go to any lengths to legally adopt the name that of the team he adored. Then, a miracle occurred.

He realized his ambition to see the Theatre of Dreams.

Years of Judicial Challenges

The following morning, Marin consulted an attorney to present his unique case, thus initiating a difficult fight. The parent who inspired him, from whom he had learned to support the club, was long gone, and the 36-year-old was caring for his parent, taking on various types of work, including as a construction worker on a meager daily wage. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He soon became the local celebrity, then gained worldwide attention, but 15 years full of judicial disputes and discouraging rulings were to come.

Legal Obstacles and Small Wins

His request 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 court official granted a limited approval, saying Marin could alter his given name to Manchester but that he was could not adopt the second part as his family name. “Yet my aim is to be identified with an urban area in Britain, I want to carry the title of my beloved team,” Marin stated during proceedings. The struggle continued.

Companions in Adversity

When not in court, he was often tending to his pets. He had a large number in his garden in Svishtov and held them in the same esteem as the Manchester United. He christened them after club legends: such as Vidic and others, they were the most famous cats in town. Who was his preferred pet of the name they used? One named after David Beckham.

He was often seen in full club regalia.

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 he remained dissatisfied. “My efforts will persist until my complete identity is the club's title,” he declared. His story soon led to commercial propositions – a chance to have supporters' goods made using his identity – but despite his financial struggles, he declined the proposal because he was unwilling to gain financially from his favourite club. The Manchester United name was inviolable.

Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes

His story was captured in that year. The filmmakers turned Marin’s dream of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even met the Bulgarian striker, the Bulgaria striker playing for United at the time.

He inked the team emblem on his face at a later date as a objection to the court decisions and in his closing chapter it became increasingly hard for him to keep up the struggle. Work was limited and he suffered the death of his mother to the pandemic. But he managed to continue. Originally of Catholic faith, he got baptised in an orthodox church under the name his desired full name. “At least God will know me with my true identity,” he often stated.

This Monday, 13 October, his time ran out. Maybe at last Manchester United’s determined supporter could finally find peace.