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Pose the question to any United devotee of a certain age concerning the significance of May 26th, 1999, and the answer will be that the date left an indelible mark. It was the moment when injury-time goals from Teddy Sheringham and Solskjær secured an unbelievable come-from-behind victory in the Champions League final against the German giants at the Camp Nou. That same night, the existence of one devoted supporter in Eastern Europe, who passed away at the age of 62, changed forever.

Hopes in a Bygone Era

The fan in question was originally called Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in a small Danube town, a community with a tight-knit community. Living in the former Eastern Bloc with a love of football, he dreamed of changing his name to… his beloved club. But, to claim the name of a football club from the other side of the Iron Curtain was an unattainable goal. Had Marin tried to do so prior to the end of communism, he would undoubtedly have ended up in jail.

A Promise Forged in Drama

Many seasons after the fall of the regime in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's personal goal came one step closer to achievement. Watching the final from his humble abode in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin vowed to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would do anything to change his name that of the club he loved. Then, the impossible happened.

He realized his ambition to see the Theatre of Dreams.

The Long Legal Battle

The following morning, Marin visited a lawyer to express his unusual request, thus initiating a difficult fight. His dad, from whom he had gained his fandom, was long gone, and the 36-year-old was residing with his mom, taking on various types of work, including as a construction worker on a meager daily wage. He was struggling financially, yet his dream became an obsession. He quickly turned into the local celebrity, then became an international sensation, but 15 years full of court cases and disheartening court decisions awaited him.

Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories

The application was turned down at first for trademark concerns: he could not change his name of a internationally recognized entity. Then a presiding magistrate ruled partially in his favour, saying Marin could change his first name to Manchester but that he was not to use United as his official surname. “However, I desire to be named after a city in the UK, I want to carry the title of my beloved team,” Marin informed the judge. The battle persisted.

His Beloved Cats

When not in court, he was often looking after his cats. He had plenty of them in his garden in Svishtov and held them in the same esteem as the his team. He named them all after team stars: including Ferdinand and Rooney, they were the most famous cats in town. Which was the favourite cat of Man U? A kitty called Beckham.

He was often seen in full club regalia.

Breakthroughs and Principles

He achieved a further success in court: he was permitted to include the club name as an recognized alias on his personal papers. But he remained dissatisfied. “I will continue until my entire name is as I desire,” he vowed. His narrative resulted in financial opportunities – an offer to have fan merchandise produced under his new name – but despite his financial struggles, he declined the proposal because he was unwilling to gain financially from his adored institution. The club's identity was inviolable.

Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes

A film was made in 2011. The crew turned Marin’s dream of seeing the iconic stadium and there he even encountered the Bulgarian striker, the forward then at the club at the time.

He inked the club badge on his forehead at a later date as a objection to the judicial outcomes and in his final years it became ever tougher for him to continue his legal battle. Employment was hard to find and he suffered the death of his mother to the virus. But somehow, he found a way. By birth a Catholic, he underwent baptism in an Eastern Orthodox church under the name the identity he sought. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my chosen name,” he used to say.

This Monday, 13 October, his time ran out. It is possible that the club's restless soul could achieve eternal tranquility.