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Ask any Man United supporter from an earlier generation regarding the importance of that fateful day in May 1999, and they'll recount that the date left an indelible mark. It was the evening when last-minute strikes from Sheringham and Solskjær sealed an stunning late turnaround in the Champions League final against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. That same night, the world of one United fan in Eastern Europe, who passed away at the age of 62, was transformed.

Hopes in a Bygone Era

The fan in question was born Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in his hometown, a settlement with a population of 22,000. Being raised in a socialist state with a devotion to football, he dreamed of legally altering his identity to… the Red Devils. Yet, to claim the name of a sports team from the Western world was mission impossible. Had Marin tried to do so prior to the end of communism, he would likely have been arrested.

A Promise Forged in Drama

A decade after the political changes in Bulgaria – on that night in May 1999 – Marin's idiosyncratic dream moved nearer to reality. Tuning in from home from his simple residence in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin made a promise to himself: should his team mount a comeback, he would go to any lengths to change his name that of the object of his devotion. Then, the impossible happened.

He realized his ambition to see the Theatre of Dreams.

The Long Legal Battle

The following morning, Marin sought legal counsel to state his extraordinary desire, thus starting a grueling process. The parent who inspired him, from whom he had gained his fandom, was no longer alive, and the man in his thirties was residing with his mom, employed in miscellaneous roles, including as a builder on a meager daily wage. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his dream became an obsession. He soon became the subject of gossip, then was featured globally, but a decade and a half full of judicial disputes and setbacks in litigation awaited him.

Trademark Issues and Limited Success

The application was turned down at first for trademark concerns: he was barred from using the title of a trademark known around the globe. Then a local judge ruled partially in his favour, saying Marin could modify his forename to the city name but that he was prohibited from using the second part as his family name. “But I don’t want to be identified with an urban area in the UK, I want to wear the name of my cherished club,” Marin informed the judge. His fight went on.

Companions in Adversity

Outside of legal proceedings, he was often tending to his pets. He had many animals in his back yard in Svishtov and loved them as much as the Manchester United. He named them all after United players: such as Vidic and others, they were the celebrity pets in town. Who was his preferred pet of the name they used? One named after David Beckham.

Marin bedecked in United gear.

Progress and Integrity

Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was allowed to add United as an official nickname on his personal papers. But he remained dissatisfied. “I will continue until my complete identity is as I desire,” he vowed. His story soon led to business offers – a chance to have supporters' goods made using his identity – but although he was in need, he declined the proposal because he refused to make money from his beloved team. The club's identity was sacred to him.

Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes

A documentary followed in 2011. The filmmakers fulfilled his wish of visiting Old Trafford and there he even had the chance to see his compatriot, the national team player on the team's roster at the time.

Marin tattooed the United crest on his forehead three years later as a objection to the judicial outcomes and in his last few years it became more and more difficult for him to keep up the struggle. Work was limited and he was bereaved to the virus. But he managed to continue. Originally of Catholic faith, he got baptised in an Eastern Orthodox church under the name the identity he sought. “At least God will know me with my real name,” he often stated.

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