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Inquire of any United supporter who is older concerning the meaning of that fateful day in May 1999, and they'll recount that the night changed them forever. It was the evening when dramatic late goals from Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær secured an unbelievable come-from-behind victory in the European Cup final against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. That same night, the life of one devoted supporter in Eastern Europe, who passed away at the age of 62, took a new direction.

Hopes in a Bygone Era

The fan in question was born Marin Levidzhov in a small Danube town, a settlement with a tight-knit community. Being raised in communist Bulgaria with a love of football, he dreamed of changing his name to… Manchester United. Yet, to adopt the name of a sports team from the Western world was an unattainable goal. Any effort to do so during the socialist era, he would likely have ended up in jail.

A Vow Made Under Pressure

Many seasons after the end of communism in Bulgaria – on that night in May 1999 – Marin's idiosyncratic dream moved nearer to achievement. Tuning in from home 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, a miracle occurred.

Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.

The Long Legal Battle

The next day, Marin consulted an attorney to express his unusual request, thus beginning a long, hard battle. His dad, from whom he had learned to support the club, was deceased, and the man in his thirties was residing with his mom, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a laborer on £15 a day. He was struggling financially, yet his goal turned into a fixation. He soon became the local celebrity, then became an international sensation, but 15 years full of legal battles and discouraging rulings were to come.

Trademark Issues and Limited Success

The application was turned down at first for intellectual property issues: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a trademark known around the globe. Then a court official ruled partially in his favour, saying Marin could modify his forename to the city name but that he was not to use United as his family name. “Yet my aim is to be named after a city in England, I want to wear the name of my cherished club,” Marin told the court. His fight went on.

His Beloved Cats

During breaks from litigation, 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 christened them after United players: from Rio to Rooney, they were the most famous cats in town. The one he loved most of the name they used? A kitty called Beckham.

He was often seen in full club regalia.

Breakthroughs and Principles

Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was granted the right to append United as an legal alternative on his ID card. But this did not satisfy him. “I won’t stop until my entire name is the club's title,” he declared. His story soon led to business offers – a proposal to have club products branded with his legal name – but although he was in need, he rejected the opportunity because he did not want to profit from his favourite club. The club's identity was inviolable.

Goals Achieved and Enduring Symbols

A documentary followed in 2011. The production team made his aspiration come true of visiting Old Trafford and there he even had the chance to see the Bulgarian striker, the national team player on the team's roster at the time.

He inked the team emblem on his face at a later date as a objection to the legal rulings and in his last few years it became ever tougher for him to persist with his fight. 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 underwent baptism in an orthodox church under the name the identity he sought. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my real name,” he would frequently remark.

This Monday, 13 October, his life came to an end. Maybe at last Manchester United’s restless soul could at last be at rest.