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Inquire of any United devotee from an earlier generation regarding the importance of 26 May 1999, and they will tell you that the date was life-altering. It was the moment when dramatic late goals from Sheringham and Solskjær completed an unbelievable late turnaround in the showpiece event against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. That same night, the existence of one United fan in Bulgaria, who recently died at the 62 years old, changed forever.

Aspirations Under Communism

That supporter was originally called Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in Svishtov, a community with a population of 22,000. Being raised in communist Bulgaria with a passion for football, he aspired to legally altering his identity to… his beloved club. But, to take the name of a sports team from the Western world was a futile endeavor. If he had attempted to do so before the fall of the regime, he would likely have ended up in jail.

A Promise Forged in Drama

A decade after the fall of the regime in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's personal goal moved nearer to fulfillment. Viewing the match from his modest home in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin vowed to himself: if United somehow turned the game around, he would go to any lengths to change his name that of the club he loved. Then, a miracle occurred.

Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.

The Long Legal Battle

The following morning, Marin sought legal counsel to state his extraordinary desire, thus beginning a long, hard battle. His dad, from whom he had inherited his love of United, was no longer alive, and the 36-year-old was caring for his parent, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a builder on a meager daily wage. He was barely getting by, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He rapidly evolved into the local celebrity, then was featured globally, but many seasons full of judicial disputes and setbacks in litigation awaited him.

Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories

The application was turned down at first for trademark concerns: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a internationally recognized entity. Then a local judge allowed a compromise, saying Marin could alter his given name to Manchester but that he was not to use the second part as his legal last name. “However, I desire to be associated with just a place in the UK, I want to bear the identity of my cherished club,” Marin told the court. The struggle continued.

A Life with Feline Friends

When not in court, he was often caring for his feline friends. He had many animals in his garden in Svishtov and held them in the same esteem as the his team. He christened them after United players: such as Vidic and others, they were the most famous cats in town. Which was the favourite cat of Man U? One named after David Beckham.

His attire consistently showed his allegiance.

Breakthroughs and Principles

Another victory was secured in court: he was allowed to add United as an official nickname on his personal papers. But still he wasn’t happy. “I will continue until my entire name is Manchester United,” he promised. His story soon led to business offers – a chance to have supporters' goods branded with his legal name – but despite his financial struggles, he rejected the opportunity because he was unwilling to gain financially from his beloved team. The club's identity was beyond commercial use.

Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes

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

Marin tattooed the team emblem on his forehead three years later as a demonstration against the court decisions and in his final years it became increasingly hard for him to keep up the struggle. Employment was hard to find and he was bereaved to the pandemic. But somehow, he found a way. By birth a Catholic, he underwent baptism in an orthodox church under the name his desired full name. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my real name,” he used to say.

On a recent Monday, his time ran out. Maybe at last Manchester United’s determined supporter could achieve eternal tranquility.