🔗 Share this article

Inquire of any Manchester United supporter who is older about the meaning of that fateful day in May 1999, and they will tell you that the date was life-altering. It was the night when injury-time goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær sealed an incredible late turnaround in the showpiece event against Bayern Munich at the famous Barcelona stadium. It was also, the world of one devoted supporter in Eastern Europe, who passed away at the age of 62, changed forever.

A Dream Born in Communist Bulgaria

The fan in question was born Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in his hometown, a community with a modest number of residents. Being raised in communist Bulgaria with a love of football, he dreamed of adopting a new name to… his beloved club. But, to claim the name of a football club from the Western world was a futile endeavor. Any effort to do so during the socialist era, he would likely have ended up in jail.

A Promise Forged in Drama

Many seasons after the end of communism in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's unique aspiration edged closer to reality. Tuning in from home from his modest home in Svishtov and with the score against them, Marin vowed to himself: if United somehow turned the game around, he would do anything to become known as that of the team he adored. Then, a miracle occurred.

He realized his ambition to see the Theatre of Dreams.

Years of Judicial Challenges

A day later, Marin sought legal counsel to express his unusual request, thus initiating a difficult fight. The parent who inspired him, from whom he had gained his fandom, was deceased, and the man in his thirties was living with his mother, taking on various types of work, including as a builder on a meager daily wage. He was struggling financially, yet his dream became an obsession. He soon became the local celebrity, then gained worldwide attention, but 15 years full of legal battles and setbacks in litigation were to come.

Trademark Issues and Limited Success

His request was turned down at first for copyright reasons: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a internationally recognized entity. Then a court official allowed a compromise, saying Marin could modify his forename to the city name but that he was could not adopt United as his family name. “Yet my aim is to be identified with an urban area in Britain, I want to wear the name of my cherished club,” Marin stated during proceedings. The battle persisted.

His Beloved Cats

When not in court, he was often looking after his cats. He had a large number in his outdoor space in Svishtov and cherished them equally with the his team. He christened them after team stars: such as Vidic and others, they were the most famous cats in town. Who was his preferred pet of his close friends' nickname for him? A kitty called Beckham.

Marin bedecked in United gear.

Progress and Integrity

Another victory was secured in court: he was allowed to add United as an recognized alias on his identification document. But this did not satisfy him. “I won’t stop until my entire name is Manchester United,” he declared. His narrative resulted in commercial propositions – an offer to have supporters' goods made using his identity – but even with his monetary challenges, he turned down the offer because he did not want to profit from his beloved team. The team's title was beyond commercial use.

Aspirations Fulfilled and Final Acts

His story was captured in 2011. The crew fulfilled his wish of seeing the iconic stadium and there he even encountered his compatriot, the forward on the team's roster at the time.

Permanently marked the club badge on his forehead at a later date as a protest against the legal rulings and in his closing chapter it became increasingly hard for him to persist with his fight. Job opportunities were scarce and he was bereaved to the virus. But against the odds, he persevered. By birth a Catholic, he was christened in an Eastern Orthodox church under the name the identity he sought. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my chosen name,” he would frequently remark.

On a recent Monday, his time ran out. Maybe at last Manchester United’s determined supporter could achieve eternal tranquility.