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Pose the question to any United devotee of a certain age regarding the significance of May 26th, 1999, and they'll recount that the night changed them forever. It was the moment when last-minute strikes from Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær secured an incredible come-from-behind victory in the European Cup final against Bayern Munich at the famous Barcelona stadium. It was also, the existence of one United fan in Eastern Europe, who recently died at the 62 years old, took a new direction.

Hopes in a Bygone Era

That supporter was given the name Marin Levidzhov in his hometown, a community with a modest number of residents. Living in a socialist state with a devotion to football, he longed to adopting a new name to… his beloved club. But, to adopt the name of a football club from the capitalist west was an unattainable goal. Any effort to do so prior to the end of communism, he would almost certainly have faced imprisonment.

A Promise Forged in Drama

A decade after the political changes in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's personal goal edged closer to achievement. Tuning in from home from his modest home in Svishtov and with his team losing, Marin made a promise to himself: should his team mount a comeback, he would do anything to change his name that of the team he adored. Then, the impossible happened.

Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.

A Protracted Court Struggle

A day later, Marin visited a lawyer to present his unique case, thus starting a grueling process. Marin’s father, from whom he had gained his fandom, was no longer alive, and the man in his thirties was living with his mother, employed in miscellaneous roles, including as a construction worker on minimal earnings. He was barely getting by, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He soon became the talk of the town, then was featured globally, but 15 years full of judicial disputes and disheartening court decisions awaited him.

Trademark Issues and Limited Success

His request was rejected initially for intellectual property issues: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a world-famous brand. Then a court official allowed a compromise, saying Marin could change his first name to Manchester but that he was could not adopt United as his family name. “Yet my aim is to be identified with an urban area in England, I want to carry the title of my cherished club,” Marin told the court. His fight went on.

His Beloved Cats

When not in court, he was often looking after his cats. He had a large number in his back yard in Svishtov and held them in the same esteem as the his team. He named them all after United players: such as Vidic and others, they were the best-known felines in town. The one he loved most of Man U? The feline known as Beckham.

Marin bedecked in United gear.

Progress and Integrity

Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was allowed to add the club name as an recognized alias on his identification document. But this did not satisfy him. “My efforts will persist until my full name is Manchester United,” he promised. His story soon led to business offers – a proposal to have supporters' goods branded with his legal name – but although he was in need, he declined the proposal because he refused to make money from his adored institution. The Manchester United name was sacred to him.

Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes

His story was captured in 2011. The production team fulfilled his wish of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even met Dimitar Berbatov, the Bulgaria striker on the team's roster at the time.

Permanently marked the club badge on his forehead three years later as a objection to the judicial outcomes and in his closing chapter it became increasingly hard for him to continue his legal battle. Job opportunities were scarce and he suffered the death of his mother to the virus. But against the odds, he persevered. Originally of Catholic faith, he was christened in an Eastern Orthodox church under the name the identity he sought. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my true identity,” he used to say.

This Monday, 13 October, his time ran out. It is possible that the club's determined supporter could at last be at rest.