🔗 Share this article

Pose the question to any Manchester United fan from an earlier generation concerning the importance of May 26th, 1999, and the answer will be that the night was life-altering. It was the moment when last-minute strikes from Teddy Sheringham and Solskjær secured an unbelievable come-from-behind victory in the Champions League final against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. That same night, the life of one loyal follower in Bulgaria, who passed away at the age of 62, took a new direction.

Hopes in a Bygone Era

This individual was born Marin Zdravkov Levidzhov in his hometown, a settlement with a tight-knit community. Living in the former Eastern Bloc with a passion for football, he dreamed of legally altering his identity to… his beloved club. However, to claim the name of a sports team from the Western world was an unattainable goal. Any effort to do so during the socialist era, he would likely have faced imprisonment.

A Commitment Sealed by Fate

Many seasons after the fall of the regime in Bulgaria – on that night in May 1999 – Marin's personal goal came one step closer to fulfillment. Viewing the match from his modest home in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin made a promise to himself: if United somehow turned the game around, he would go to any lengths to become known as that of the team he adored. Then, a miracle occurred.

A lifelong wish to walk the halls of the famous stadium came true.

A Protracted Court Struggle

The following morning, Marin sought legal counsel to present his unique case, thus beginning a long, hard battle. His dad, from whom he had inherited his love of United, was deceased, and the 36-year-old was caring for his parent, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a construction worker on a meager daily wage. He was hardly making ends meet, yet his dream became an obsession. He quickly turned into the talk of the town, then gained worldwide attention, but 15 years full of judicial disputes and setbacks in litigation lay ahead.

Legal Obstacles and Small Wins

Marin’s wish was turned down at first for intellectual property issues: he was not permitted to adopt the name of a trademark known around the globe. Then a local judge allowed a compromise, saying Marin could alter his given name to Manchester but that he was prohibited from using United as his legal last name. “But I don’t want to be identified with an urban area in Britain, I want to carry the title of my beloved team,” Marin told the court. His fight went on.

A Life with Feline Friends

Outside of legal proceedings, he was often tending to his pets. He had a large number in his back yard in Svishtov and loved them as much as the Manchester United. He christened them after United players: such as Vidic and others, they were the celebrity pets in town. Who was his preferred pet of the name they used? A kitty called Beckham.

Marin bedecked in United gear.

Progress and Integrity

Another victory was secured in court: he was permitted to include the club name 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 promised. His story soon led to commercial propositions – an offer to have club products produced under his new name – but despite his financial struggles, he declined the proposal because he was unwilling to gain financially from his beloved team. The team's title was beyond commercial use.

Goals Achieved and Enduring Symbols

A documentary followed in 2011. The crew fulfilled his wish of experiencing the Theatre of Dreams and there he even had the chance to see Dimitar Berbatov, the national team player playing for United at the time.

Permanently marked the team emblem on his face three years later as a objection to the legal rulings and in his last few years it became ever tougher for him to persist with his fight. Job opportunities were scarce and he was bereaved to the pandemic. But against the odds, he persevered. Born as a Catholic, he got baptised in an religious institution under the name the identity he sought. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my true identity,” he would frequently remark.

Earlier this week, his life came to an end. It is possible that the club's restless soul could at last be at rest.