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Pose the question to any Manchester United supporter of a certain age concerning the importance of 26 May 1999, and they will tell you that the date left an indelible mark. It was the moment when injury-time goals from Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær completed an incredible late turnaround in the European Cup final against Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou. Simultaneously, the world of one loyal follower in Eastern Europe, who passed away at the 62 years old, changed forever.

Aspirations Under Communism

That supporter was given the name Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in Svishtov, a community with a population of 22,000. Growing up in a socialist state with a passion for football, he longed to adopting a new name to… his beloved club. However, to claim the name of a organization from the other side of the Iron Curtain was mission impossible. Any effort to do so before the fall of the regime, he would almost certainly have faced imprisonment.

A Vow Made Under Pressure

Many seasons after the fall of the regime in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's idiosyncratic dream moved nearer to reality. Viewing the match from his modest home in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin made a promise to himself: if United somehow turned the game around, he would spare no effort to become known as that of the object of his devotion. Then, against all odds, it transpired.

A lifelong wish to walk the halls of the famous stadium came true.

The Long Legal Battle

A day later, Marin sought legal counsel to state his extraordinary desire, thus initiating a difficult fight. His dad, from whom he had gained his fandom, was long gone, and the 36-year-old was caring for his parent, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a laborer on minimal earnings. He was struggling financially, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He quickly turned into the local celebrity, then became an international sensation, but 15 years full of judicial disputes and setbacks in litigation were to come.

Legal Obstacles and Small Wins

Marin’s wish was turned down at first for intellectual property issues: he was barred from using the title of a internationally recognized entity. Then a court official granted a limited approval, saying Marin could modify his forename to Manchester but that he was could not adopt United as his official surname. “However, I desire to be named after a city in Britain, I want to wear the name of my beloved team,” Marin stated during proceedings. His fight went on.

His Beloved Cats

Outside of legal proceedings, he was often tending to his pets. He had plenty of them in his back yard in Svishtov and held them in the same esteem as the Manchester United. He christened them after team stars: from Rio to Rooney, they were the most famous cats in town. Which was the favourite cat of his close friends' nickname for him? One named after David Beckham.

He was often seen in full club regalia.

Progress and Integrity

Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was granted the right to append the club name as an recognized alias on his identification document. But this did not satisfy him. “I won’t stop until my entire name is as I desire,” he declared. His narrative resulted in financial opportunities – a proposal to have club products produced under his new name – but although he was in need, he declined the proposal because he was unwilling to gain financially from his favourite club. The team's title was sacred to him.

Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes

A film was made in that year. The filmmakers made his aspiration come true of visiting Old Trafford and there he even encountered his compatriot, the forward then at the club at the time.

He inked the team emblem on his face three years later as a demonstration against the court decisions and in his final years it became increasingly hard for him to continue his legal battle. Employment was hard to find and he was bereaved to the virus. But he managed to continue. By birth a Catholic, he got baptised in an religious institution under the name his desired full name. “In the eyes of the divine, I am with my true identity,” he would frequently remark.

This Monday, 13 October, his time ran out. It is possible that the club's persistent fan could finally find peace.