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Ask any Manchester United fan of a certain age about the meaning of 26 May 1999, and the answer will be that the occasion was life-altering. It was the evening when dramatic late goals from Sheringham and Solskjær completed an stunning come-from-behind victory in the Champions League final against the German giants at the Camp Nou. That same night, the life of one loyal follower in Eastern Europe, who has died at the age of 62, took a new direction.

Hopes in a Bygone Era

This individual was given the name Marin Levidzhov in his hometown, a community with a tight-knit community. Being raised in communist Bulgaria with a devotion to football, he longed to adopting a new name to… the Red Devils. However, to take the name of a sports team from the Western world was a futile endeavor. If he had attempted to do so prior to the end of communism, he would likely have faced imprisonment.

A Commitment Sealed by Fate

Many seasons after the end of communism in Bulgaria – on that night in May 1999 – Marin's unique aspiration edged closer to achievement. Watching the final from his humble abode in Svishtov and with his team losing, Marin vowed to himself: should his team mount a comeback, he would spare no effort to become known as that of the club he loved. Then, the impossible happened.

Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.

Years of Judicial Challenges

A day later, Marin consulted an attorney to state his extraordinary desire, thus starting a grueling process. The parent who inspired him, from whom he had learned to support the club, was deceased, and the man in his thirties was caring for his parent, taking on various types of work, including as a laborer on a meager daily wage. He was struggling financially, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He quickly turned into the subject of gossip, then was featured globally, but a decade and a half full of legal battles and discouraging rulings were to come.

Trademark Issues and Limited Success

Marin’s wish was denied early on 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 change his first name to the city name but that he was prohibited from using the second part as his official surname. “However, I desire to be named after a city in England, I want to bear the identity of my beloved team,” Marin informed the judge. The battle persisted.

His Beloved Cats

Outside of legal proceedings, he was often looking after his cats. He had plenty of them in his garden in Svishtov and loved them as much as the Red Devils. He gave each one a name after team stars: from Rio to Rooney, they were the best-known felines in town. Which was the favourite cat of his close friends' nickname for him? The feline known as Beckham.

His attire consistently showed his allegiance.

Breakthroughs and Principles

He achieved a further success in court: he was permitted to include the club name as an recognized alias on his identification document. But still he wasn’t happy. “I will continue until my complete identity is as I desire,” he declared. His tale attracted financial opportunities – a chance to have club products branded with his legal name – but despite his financial struggles, he rejected the opportunity because he refused to make money from his favourite club. The team's title was beyond commercial use.

Goals Achieved and Enduring Symbols

A film was made in 2011. The crew fulfilled his wish of visiting Old Trafford and there he even met his compatriot, the Bulgaria striker playing for United at the time.

Permanently marked the United crest on his brow at a later date as a protest against the judicial outcomes and in his closing chapter it became more and more difficult for him to continue his legal battle. Job opportunities were scarce and he suffered the death of his mother to the pandemic. But somehow, he found a way. Born as a Catholic, he got baptised in an religious institution under the name his desired full name. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my true identity,” he used to say.

Earlier this week, his time ran out. Perhaps now the club's persistent fan could at last be at rest.