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Pose the question to any Manchester United fan of a certain age regarding the importance of that fateful day in May 1999, and the answer will be that the occasion changed them forever. It was the night when last-minute strikes from Sheringham and Solskjær completed an incredible 2-1 comeback in the European Cup final against Bayern Munich at the famous Barcelona stadium. Simultaneously, the life of one devoted supporter in Bulgaria, who passed away at the age of 62, was transformed.

A Dream Born in Communist Bulgaria

The fan in question was given the name Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in his hometown, a community with a population of 22,000. Growing up in a socialist state with a passion for football, he dreamed of adopting a new name to… his beloved club. But, to adopt the name of a football club from the Western world was an unattainable goal. Any effort to do so during the socialist era, he would undoubtedly have ended up in jail.

A Promise Forged in Drama

Many seasons after the end of communism in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's unique aspiration edged closer to fulfillment. Watching the final from his modest home in Svishtov and with his team losing, Marin made a promise to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would spare no effort to become known as that of the team he adored. Then, against all odds, it transpired.

Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.

The Long Legal Battle

The following morning, Marin consulted an attorney to express his unusual request, thus starting a grueling process. The parent who inspired him, from whom he had learned to support the club, was deceased, and the 36-year-old was living with his mother, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a laborer on minimal earnings. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his goal turned into a fixation. He soon became the talk of the town, then was featured globally, but a decade and a half full of judicial disputes and disheartening court decisions awaited him.

Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories

Marin’s wish was denied early on for intellectual property issues: he was barred from using the title of a world-famous brand. Then a court official granted a limited approval, saying Marin could change his first name to the city name but that he was prohibited from using the second part as his legal last name. “However, I desire to be named after a city in England, I want to carry the title of my cherished club,” Marin told the court. The battle persisted.

His Beloved Cats

Outside of legal proceedings, he was often caring for his feline friends. He had a large number in his outdoor space in Svishtov and held them in the same esteem as the Red Devils. He christened them after club legends: from Rio to Rooney, they were the celebrity pets in town. Which was the favourite cat of Man U? One named after David Beckham.

His attire consistently showed his allegiance.

Advances and Ethics

Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was allowed to add United as an recognized alias on his ID card. But still he wasn’t happy. “I won’t stop until my entire name is Manchester United,” he promised. His narrative resulted in business offers – an offer to have fan merchandise branded with his legal name – but even with his monetary challenges, he declined the proposal because he was unwilling to gain financially from his favourite club. The Manchester United name was inviolable.

Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes

A documentary followed in 2011. The production team fulfilled his wish of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even met the Bulgarian striker, the Bulgaria striker then at the club at the time.

Permanently marked the team emblem on his face subsequently as a objection to the legal rulings and in his final years it became ever tougher for him to continue his legal battle. Employment was hard to find and he lost his mother to Covid-19. But somehow, he found a way. Born as a Catholic, he was christened in an religious institution under the name Manchester United Zdravkov Levidzhov. “At least God will know me with my chosen name,” he often stated.

Earlier this week, his time ran out. Perhaps now the club's persistent fan could achieve eternal tranquility.