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Ask any Man United fan who is older regarding the significance of May 26th, 1999, and they will tell you that the night changed them forever. It was the evening when last-minute strikes from Teddy Sheringham and Solskjær secured an stunning late turnaround in the European Cup final against Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou. That same night, the life of one devoted supporter in Eastern Europe, who recently died at the age of 62, took a new direction.

A Dream Born in Communist Bulgaria

This individual was born Marin Levidzhov in his hometown, a community with a population of 22,000. Being raised in communist Bulgaria with a love of football, he longed to legally altering his identity to… Manchester United. However, to claim the name of a sports team from the Western world was a futile endeavor. Any effort to do so prior to the end of communism, he would likely have ended up in jail.

A Vow Made Under Pressure

A decade after the political changes in Bulgaria – on the historic evening – Marin's unique aspiration edged closer to reality. Tuning in from home from his humble abode in Svishtov and with his team losing, Marin swore an oath 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, against all odds, it transpired.

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 initiating a difficult fight. His dad, from whom he had inherited his love of United, was no longer alive, and the man in his thirties was living with his mother, employed in miscellaneous roles, including as a laborer on minimal earnings. He was barely getting by, yet his goal turned into a fixation. He quickly turned into the talk of the town, then was featured globally, but a decade and a half full of court cases and disheartening court decisions were to come.

Legal Obstacles and Small Wins

His request 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 court official granted a limited approval, saying Marin could alter his given name to Manchester but that he was not to use the second part as his official surname. “Yet my aim is to be named after a city in Britain, I want to bear the identity of my beloved team,” Marin informed the judge. The struggle continued.

Companions in Adversity

When not in court, he was often looking after his cats. He had a large number in his back yard in Svishtov and cherished them equally with the his team. He christened them after club legends: from Rio to Rooney, they were the most famous cats in town. The one he loved most of the name they used? A kitty called Beckham.

He was often seen in full club regalia.

Advances and Ethics

Another victory was secured in court: he was granted the right to append United as an recognized alias on his identification document. But he remained dissatisfied. “I will continue until my entire name is the club's title,” he promised. His tale attracted commercial propositions – an offer to have supporters' goods produced under his new name – but although he was in need, he turned down the offer because he refused to make money from his favourite club. The Manchester United name was beyond commercial use.

Goals Achieved and Enduring Symbols

A film was made in 2011. The filmmakers turned Marin’s dream of seeing the iconic stadium and there he even had the chance to see Dimitar Berbatov, the national team player then at the club at the time.

Permanently marked the team emblem on his forehead at a later date as a objection to the legal rulings and in his closing chapter it became ever tougher for him to continue his legal battle. Work was limited and he suffered the death of his mother to Covid-19. But he managed to continue. Originally of Catholic faith, he underwent baptism in an Eastern Orthodox church under the name his desired full name. “At least God will know me with my true identity,” he often stated.

This Monday, 13 October, his heart stopped beating. It is possible that the club's persistent fan could finally find peace.