🔗 Share this article

Pose the question to any Man United devotee from an earlier generation regarding the importance of 26 May 1999, and they'll recount that the occasion changed them forever. It was the moment when dramatic late goals from Sheringham and Solskjær secured an incredible late turnaround in the showpiece event against the German giants at the Camp Nou. That same night, the life of one United fan in Eastern Europe, who has died at the 62 years old, was transformed.

A Dream Born in Communist Bulgaria

The fan in question was originally called Marin Levidzhov in a small Danube town, a place with a tight-knit community. Growing up in a socialist state with a love of football, he longed to changing his name to… his beloved club. However, to adopt the name of a football club from the Western world was mission impossible. Any effort to do so prior to the end of communism, he would almost certainly have been arrested.

A Vow Made Under Pressure

Ten years after the political changes in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's idiosyncratic dream edged closer to achievement. Viewing the match from his humble abode in Svishtov and with his team losing, Marin vowed 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, a miracle occurred.

He realized his ambition to see the Theatre of Dreams.

A Protracted Court Struggle

The following morning, Marin sought legal counsel to present his unique case, thus initiating a difficult fight. Marin’s father, from whom he had inherited his love of United, was long gone, and the man in his thirties was living with his mother, taking on various types of work, including as a builder on £15 a day. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He soon became the local celebrity, then became an international sensation, but many seasons full of legal battles and setbacks in litigation awaited him.

Trademark Issues and Limited Success

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 ruled partially in his favour, saying Marin could alter his given name to the city name but that he was could not adopt United as his official surname. “But I don’t want to be named after a city in England, I want to wear the name of my cherished club,” Marin stated during proceedings. His fight went on.

His Beloved Cats

During breaks from litigation, he was often tending to his pets. He had a large number in his outdoor space in Svishtov and cherished them equally with the Red Devils. He gave each one a name after team stars: from Rio to Rooney, they were the celebrity pets in town. Which was the favourite cat of Man U? The feline known as Beckham.

He was often seen in full club regalia.

Advances and Ethics

Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was permitted to include United as an recognized alias on his ID card. But still he wasn’t happy. “My efforts will persist until my full name is the club's title,” he declared. His narrative resulted in financial opportunities – an offer to have supporters' goods branded with his legal name – but despite his financial struggles, he turned down the offer because he was unwilling to gain financially from his beloved team. The Manchester United name was beyond commercial use.

Dreams Realized and Lasting Tributes

A documentary followed in 2011. The production team fulfilled his wish of seeing the iconic stadium and there he even encountered the Bulgarian striker, the Bulgaria striker on the team's roster at the time.

He inked the club badge on his face subsequently as a protest against the legal rulings and in his closing chapter it became increasingly hard for him to persist with his fight. Work was limited and he suffered the death of his mother to the pandemic. But against the odds, he persevered. By birth a Catholic, he underwent baptism in an Eastern Orthodox church under the name Manchester United Zdravkov Levidzhov. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my real name,” he used to say.

Earlier this week, his heart stopped beating. Perhaps now Manchester United’s restless soul could achieve eternal tranquility.