🔗 Share this article

Pose the question to any Manchester United devotee of a certain age about the significance of May 26th, 1999, and they'll recount that the date changed them forever. It was the moment when last-minute strikes from Sheringham and Solskjær sealed an incredible come-from-behind victory in the Champions League final against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. Simultaneously, the life of one United fan in Bulgaria, who has died at the age of 62, changed forever.

Aspirations Under Communism

This individual was born Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in his hometown, a community with a modest number of residents. Being raised in communist Bulgaria with a devotion to football, he longed to legally altering his identity to… the Red Devils. But, to adopt the name of a football club from the capitalist west was a futile endeavor. Had Marin tried to do so before the fall of the regime, he would almost certainly have ended up in jail.

A Vow Made Under Pressure

Many seasons after the fall of the regime in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's idiosyncratic dream came one step closer to reality. Watching the final from his simple residence in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin made a promise to himself: should his team mount a comeback, he would go to any lengths to become known as that of the club he loved. Then, the impossible happened.

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

The Long Legal Battle

The next day, Marin consulted an attorney to state his extraordinary desire, 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 living with his mother, 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 15 years full of court cases and setbacks in litigation lay ahead.

Legal Obstacles and Small Wins

Marin’s wish was denied early on for intellectual property issues: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a trademark known around the globe. Then a presiding magistrate granted a limited approval, saying Marin could alter his given name to Manchester but that he was not to use United as his legal last name. “However, I desire to be associated with just a place in the UK, I want to carry the title of my cherished club,” Marin stated during proceedings. The struggle continued.

A Life with Feline Friends

Outside of legal proceedings, he was often tending to his pets. He had plenty of them in his back yard in Svishtov and loved them as much as the Red Devils. He christened them after United players: from Rio to Rooney, they were the most famous cats in town. Who was his preferred pet of the name they used? The feline known as Beckham.

His attire consistently showed his allegiance.

Breakthroughs and Principles

Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was permitted to include United as an official nickname on his personal papers. But still he wasn’t happy. “My efforts will persist until my complete identity is the club's title,” he vowed. His story soon led to commercial propositions – a chance to have club products made using his identity – but although he was in need, he declined the proposal because he refused to make money from his favourite club. The Manchester United name was beyond commercial use.

Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes

His story was captured in that year. The filmmakers fulfilled his wish of visiting Old Trafford and there he even encountered Dimitar Berbatov, the Bulgaria striker then at the club at the time.

Marin tattooed the club badge on his forehead at a later date as a objection to the court decisions and in his final years it became ever tougher for him to continue his legal battle. Work was limited and he lost his mother to Covid-19. But he managed to continue. Originally of Catholic faith, he underwent baptism in an religious institution under the name his desired full name. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my true identity,” he used to say.

Earlier this week, his life came to an end. Perhaps now Manchester United’s persistent fan could achieve eternal tranquility.