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Pose the question to any United supporter who is older about the importance of May 26th, 1999, and they will tell you that the night left an indelible mark. It was the evening when dramatic late goals from Teddy Sheringham and Solskjær secured an incredible late turnaround in the showpiece event against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. Simultaneously, the world of one United fan in Bulgaria, who has died at the 62 years old, took a new direction.

Hopes in a Bygone Era

That supporter was originally called Marin Levidzhov in Svishtov, a community with a population of 22,000. Being raised in a socialist state with a love of football, he aspired to changing his name to… the Red Devils. Yet, to adopt the name of a football club from the Western world was an unattainable goal. Had Marin tried to do so prior to the end of communism, he would likely have ended up in jail.

A Promise Forged in Drama

A decade after the political changes in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's personal goal came one step closer to achievement. Tuning in from home from his simple residence in Svishtov and with his team losing, Marin made a promise to himself: should his team mount a comeback, he would go to any lengths to become known as that of the team he adored. 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 starting a grueling process. Marin’s father, from whom he had gained his fandom, was long gone, and the 36-year-old was living with his mother, employed in miscellaneous roles, including as a builder on minimal earnings. He was struggling financially, yet his goal turned into a fixation. He soon became the subject of gossip, then gained worldwide attention, but many seasons full of legal battles and setbacks in litigation lay ahead.

Copyright Hurdles and Partial Victories

The application was rejected initially for intellectual property issues: he was barred from using the title of a internationally recognized entity. Then a presiding magistrate granted a limited approval, saying Marin could change his first name to Manchester but that he was not to use the second part as his official surname. “However, I desire to be associated with just a place in Britain, I want to wear the name of my favourite football club,” Marin stated during proceedings. His fight went on.

His Beloved Cats

When not in court, he was often tending to his pets. He had plenty of them in his outdoor space in Svishtov and loved them as much as the Manchester United. He named them all after team stars: from Rio to Rooney, they were the most famous cats in town. Which was the favourite cat of the name they used? A kitty called Beckham.

Marin bedecked in United gear.

Progress and Integrity

He achieved a further success in court: he was granted the right to append United as an recognized alias on his ID card. But this did not satisfy him. “I won’t stop until my complete identity is the club's title,” he promised. His tale attracted financial opportunities – a chance to have club products produced under his new name – but even with his monetary challenges, he declined the proposal because he refused to make money from his beloved team. The team's title was sacred to him.

Aspirations Fulfilled and Final Acts

A film was made in 2011. The filmmakers fulfilled his wish of visiting Old Trafford and there he even encountered Dimitar Berbatov, the national team player on the team's roster at the time.

Marin tattooed the team emblem on his brow three years later as a demonstration against the judicial outcomes and in his last few years it became more and more difficult for him to keep up the struggle. Job opportunities were scarce and he was bereaved to the virus. But somehow, he found a way. Born as a Catholic, he underwent baptism in an religious institution under the name the identity he sought. “In the eyes of the divine, I am with my true identity,” he would frequently remark.

This Monday, 13 October, his time ran out. Maybe at last the club's persistent fan could at last be at rest.