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Pose the question to any Man United supporter from an earlier generation regarding the meaning of that fateful day in May 1999, and they will tell you 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 Champions League final against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. That same night, the life of one devoted supporter in Bulgaria, who passed away at the age of 62, changed forever.

Hopes in a Bygone Era

This individual was born Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in his hometown, a place with a tight-knit community. Growing up in communist Bulgaria with a love of football, he aspired to changing his name to… the Red Devils. But, to adopt the name of a sports team from the capitalist west was a futile endeavor. If he had attempted to do so prior to the end of communism, he would likely have faced imprisonment.

A Vow Made Under Pressure

Ten years after the political changes in Bulgaria – on that night in May 1999 – Marin's idiosyncratic dream moved nearer to achievement. Watching the final from his simple residence in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin vowed to himself: should his team mount a comeback, he would go to any lengths to become known as that of the object of his devotion. Then, a miracle occurred.

Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.

Years of Judicial Challenges

A day later, Marin consulted an attorney to express his unusual request, thus starting a grueling process. His dad, from whom he had gained his fandom, was no longer alive, and the 36-year-old was residing with his mom, employed in miscellaneous roles, including as a builder on minimal earnings. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his goal turned into a fixation. He rapidly evolved into the talk of the town, then was featured globally, but a decade and a half full of judicial disputes and disheartening court decisions were to come.

Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories

The application was denied early on for copyright reasons: he could not change his name of a internationally recognized entity. Then a court official granted a limited approval, saying Marin could change his first name to Manchester but that he was not to use United as his family name. “But I don’t want to be associated with just a place in the UK, I want to bear the identity of my beloved team,” Marin told the court. The struggle continued.

His Beloved Cats

When not in court, he was often tending to his pets. He had many animals in his garden in Svishtov and held them in the same esteem as the Red Devils. He gave each one a name after team stars: from Rio to Rooney, they were the celebrity pets in town. The one he loved most of the name they used? A kitty called Beckham.

His attire consistently showed his allegiance.

Breakthroughs and Principles

Another victory was secured in court: he was granted the right to append the club name as an legal alternative on his personal papers. But he remained dissatisfied. “I will continue until my complete identity is the club's title,” he vowed. His story soon led to commercial propositions – an offer to have club products produced under his new name – but despite his financial struggles, he rejected the opportunity because he was unwilling to gain financially from his beloved team. The Manchester United name was inviolable.

Aspirations Fulfilled and Final Acts

A documentary followed in that year. The filmmakers made his aspiration come true of visiting Old Trafford and there he even encountered Dimitar Berbatov, the national team player playing for United at the time.

He inked the club badge on his face three years later as a protest against the judicial outcomes and in his last few years it became ever tougher for him to continue his legal battle. Job opportunities were scarce and he lost his mother to Covid-19. But against the odds, he persevered. Originally of Catholic faith, he got baptised in an religious institution under the name Manchester United Zdravkov Levidzhov. “At least God will know me with my real name,” he often stated.

This Monday, 13 October, his heart stopped beating. Maybe at last Manchester United’s restless soul could at last be at rest.