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Pose the question to any Man United fan from an earlier generation regarding the importance of that fateful day in May 1999, and they'll recount that the night was life-altering. It was the evening when dramatic late goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær secured an stunning 2-1 comeback in the Champions League final against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. That same night, the world of one devoted supporter in Bulgaria, who has died at the 62 years old, changed forever.

Hopes in a Bygone Era

That supporter was given the name Marin Levidzhov in Svishtov, a place with a population of 22,000. Living in the former Eastern Bloc with a passion for football, he dreamed of adopting a new name to… the Red Devils. But, to take the name of a football club from the capitalist west was an unattainable goal. If he had attempted to do so before the fall of the regime, he would likely have faced imprisonment.

A Vow Made Under Pressure

A decade after the political changes in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's unique aspiration edged closer to achievement. Viewing the match from his simple residence in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin swore an oath to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would go to any lengths to legally adopt the name that of the object of his devotion. Then, against all odds, it transpired.

He realized his ambition to see the Theatre of Dreams.

The Long Legal Battle

A day later, Marin sought legal counsel to express his unusual request, thus initiating a difficult fight. Marin’s father, from whom he had gained his fandom, was long gone, and the man in his thirties was living with his mother, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a construction worker on minimal earnings. He was struggling financially, yet his dream became an obsession. He soon became the talk of the town, then gained worldwide attention, but many seasons full of legal battles and discouraging rulings lay ahead.

Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories

Marin’s wish was denied early on for intellectual property issues: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a internationally recognized entity. Then a local judge granted a limited approval, saying Marin could change his first name to Manchester but that he was could not adopt United as his official surname. “However, I desire to be associated with just a place in England, I want to carry the title of my cherished club,” Marin informed the judge. The battle persisted.

Companions in Adversity

Outside of legal proceedings, he was often looking after his cats. He had many animals in his back yard in Svishtov and held them in the same esteem as the Red Devils. He named them all after team stars: from Rio to Rooney, they were the best-known felines 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

He achieved a further success in court: he was allowed to add United as an recognized alias on his ID card. But he remained dissatisfied. “My efforts will persist until my full name is as I desire,” he vowed. His tale attracted commercial propositions – an offer to have supporters' goods branded with his legal name – 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 beyond commercial use.

Goals Achieved and Enduring Symbols

His story was captured in 2011. The filmmakers turned Marin’s dream of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even met his compatriot, the national team player on the team's roster at the time.

Permanently marked the club badge on his brow subsequently as a objection to the court decisions and in his final years it became more and more difficult for him to keep up the struggle. Work was limited and he suffered the death of his mother to the virus. But against the odds, he persevered. Born as a Catholic, he underwent baptism in an orthodox church under the name the identity he sought. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my chosen name,” he would frequently remark.

Earlier this week, his life came to an end. Maybe at last Manchester United’s determined supporter could finally find peace.