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Pose the question to any Man United fan from an earlier generation regarding the significance of 26 May 1999, and they'll recount that the night changed them forever. It was the night when injury-time goals from Sheringham and Solskjær completed an unbelievable 2-1 comeback in the European Cup final against Bayern Munich at the famous Barcelona stadium. That same night, the life of one loyal follower in Eastern Europe, who has died at the 62 years old, changed forever.

Aspirations Under Communism

That supporter was given the name Marin Levidzhov in Svishtov, a place with a modest number of residents. Living in the former Eastern Bloc with a devotion to football, he aspired to legally altering his identity to… his beloved club. However, to adopt the name of a football club from the other side of the Iron Curtain was an unattainable goal. Had Marin tried to do so during the socialist era, he would undoubtedly have been arrested.

A Promise Forged in Drama

A decade after the fall of the regime in Bulgaria – on that night in May 1999 – Marin's unique aspiration edged closer to achievement. Viewing the match from his modest home in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin vowed to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would go to any lengths to change his name that of the club he loved. Then, against all odds, it transpired.

He realized his ambition to see the Theatre of Dreams.

The Long Legal Battle

The next day, 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 no longer alive, and the man in his thirties was residing with his mom, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a construction worker on minimal earnings. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his dream became an obsession. He soon became the local celebrity, then was featured globally, but many seasons full of court cases and disheartening court decisions lay ahead.

Legal Obstacles and Small Wins

Marin’s wish was turned down at first for copyright reasons: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a world-famous brand. Then a court official ruled partially in his favour, saying Marin could alter his given name to Manchester but that he was could not adopt the second part as his official surname. “However, I desire to be identified with an urban area in Britain, I want to carry the title of my favourite football club,” Marin informed the judge. The battle persisted.

A Life with Feline Friends

When not in court, he was often looking after his cats. He had a large number in his garden in Svishtov and cherished them equally with the his team. He named them all after United players: such as Vidic and others, they were the celebrity pets in town. Which was the favourite cat of Man U? One named after David Beckham.

He was often seen in full club regalia.

Progress and Integrity

He achieved a further success in court: he was permitted to include the club name as an recognized alias on his ID card. But he remained dissatisfied. “I won’t stop until my complete identity is Manchester United,” he promised. His tale attracted business offers – an offer to have fan merchandise branded with his legal name – but despite his financial struggles, he declined the proposal because he did not want to profit from his adored institution. The club's identity was sacred to him.

Goals Achieved and Enduring Symbols

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

Permanently marked the club badge on his forehead subsequently as a objection to the legal rulings and in his last few years it became more and more difficult for him to continue his legal battle. Employment was hard to find and he suffered the death of his mother to the pandemic. But somehow, he found a way. Born as a Catholic, he was christened in an Eastern Orthodox church under the name Manchester United Zdravkov Levidzhov. “In the eyes of the divine, I am with my true identity,” he used to say.

This Monday, 13 October, his life came to an end. It is possible that the club's persistent fan could at last be at rest.