🔗 Share this article

Inquire of any United fan who is older regarding the meaning of May 26th, 1999, and they will tell you that the date left an indelible mark. It was the moment when injury-time goals from Sheringham and Solskjær sealed an stunning come-from-behind victory in the Champions League final against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. Simultaneously, the existence of one United fan in Eastern Europe, who has died at the 62 years old, changed forever.

Aspirations Under Communism

The fan in question was born Marin Levidzhov in his hometown, a settlement with a modest number of residents. Living in a socialist state with a love of football, he dreamed of legally altering his identity to… Manchester United. However, to adopt the name of a organization from the capitalist west was an unattainable goal. Had Marin tried to do so prior to the end of communism, he would likely have faced imprisonment.

A Vow Made Under Pressure

Many seasons after the fall of the regime in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's idiosyncratic dream edged closer to achievement. Viewing the match from his humble abode in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin vowed to himself: if United somehow turned the game around, he would go to any lengths to change his name that of the club he loved. Then, against all odds, it transpired.

Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.

A Protracted Court Struggle

A day later, Marin consulted an attorney to express his unusual request, thus beginning a long, hard battle. Marin’s father, from whom he had inherited his love of United, was no longer alive, and the man in his thirties was caring for his parent, employed in miscellaneous roles, including as a construction worker on minimal earnings. He was barely getting by, yet his goal turned into a fixation. He quickly turned into the local celebrity, then was featured globally, but 15 years full of judicial disputes and disheartening court decisions lay ahead.

Trademark Issues and Limited Success

Marin’s wish was denied early on for copyright reasons: he was barred from using the title of a trademark known around the globe. Then a presiding magistrate granted a limited approval, saying Marin could alter his given name to the city name but that he was prohibited from using United as his family name. “But I don’t want to be associated with just a place in England, I want to carry the title of my favourite football club,” Marin told the court. The battle persisted.

A Life with Feline Friends

Outside of legal proceedings, he was often looking after his cats. He had a large number in his back yard in Svishtov and held them in the same esteem as the Red Devils. He gave each one a name after club legends: including Ferdinand and Rooney, they were the best-known felines in town. Who was his preferred pet of his close friends' nickname for him? The feline known as Beckham.

His attire consistently showed his allegiance.

Advances and Ethics

Another victory was secured in court: he was allowed to add the club name as an recognized alias on his personal papers. But still he wasn’t happy. “My efforts will persist until my complete identity is Manchester United,” he declared. His story soon led to business offers – a proposal to have club products produced under his new name – but despite his financial struggles, he declined the proposal because he refused to make money from his favourite club. The Manchester United name was inviolable.

Aspirations Fulfilled and Final Acts

A documentary followed in that year. The filmmakers made his aspiration come true of seeing the iconic stadium and there he even encountered the Bulgarian striker, the Bulgaria striker then at the club at the time.

He inked the team emblem on his brow at a later date as a protest against the court decisions and in his closing chapter it became ever tougher for him to persist with his fight. Employment was hard to find and he lost his mother to the pandemic. But against the odds, he persevered. Born as a Catholic, he underwent baptism in an Eastern Orthodox church under the name the identity he sought. “In the eyes of the divine, I am with my real name,” he used to say.

On a recent Monday, his life came to an end. Perhaps now the club's restless soul could finally find peace.