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Ask any United supporter who is older regarding the meaning of that fateful day in May 1999, and the answer will be that the date was life-altering. It was the moment when injury-time goals from Teddy Sheringham and Solskjær sealed an unbelievable come-from-behind victory in the Champions League final against the German giants at the famous Barcelona stadium. That same night, the existence of one devoted supporter in Eastern Europe, who has died at the age of 62, changed forever.

Aspirations Under Communism

That supporter was originally called Marin Levidzhov in his hometown, a settlement with a population of 22,000. Living in communist Bulgaria with a love of football, he longed to adopting a new name to… his beloved club. Yet, to claim the name of a organization from the capitalist west was an unattainable goal. Any effort to do so before the fall of the regime, he would likely have ended up in jail.

A Promise Forged in Drama

Ten years after the political changes in Bulgaria – on the unforgettable final – Marin's unique aspiration moved nearer to achievement. Tuning in from home from his humble abode in Svishtov and with United trailing, Marin made a promise to himself: in the event of a reversal, he would spare no effort to change his name that of the team he adored. Then, the impossible happened.

Marin fulfils his dream of visiting Old Trafford.

A Protracted Court Struggle

The next day, Marin sought legal counsel to present his unique case, thus initiating a difficult fight. Marin’s father, from whom he had learned to support the club, was deceased, and the 36-year-old was living with his mother, working all kinds of odd jobs, including as a construction worker on minimal earnings. He was barely getting by, yet his aspiration grew into a mania. He rapidly evolved into the local celebrity, then became an international sensation, but many seasons full of judicial disputes and discouraging rulings lay ahead.

Trademark Issues and Limited Success

Marin’s wish was denied early on for intellectual property issues: he could not change his name of a internationally recognized entity. Then a presiding magistrate ruled partially in his favour, saying Marin could modify his forename to the city name but that he was prohibited from using United as his official surname. “Yet my aim is to be identified with an urban area in the UK, I want to wear the name of my favourite football club,” Marin told the court. 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 cherished them equally with the his team. He christened them after club legends: such as Vidic and others, they were the celebrity pets in town. Who was his preferred pet of his close friends' nickname for him? A kitty called Beckham.

He was often seen in full club regalia.

Progress and Integrity

Marin managed another breakthrough in court: he was permitted to include United as an recognized alias on his identification document. But still he wasn’t happy. “I won’t stop until my full name is the club's title,” he promised. His tale attracted commercial propositions – a chance to have supporters' goods branded with his legal name – but even with his monetary challenges, he rejected the opportunity because he was unwilling to gain financially from his favourite club. The club's identity was beyond commercial use.

Goals Achieved and Enduring Symbols

A film was made in that year. The crew made his aspiration come true of visiting Old Trafford and there he even encountered the Bulgarian striker, the Bulgaria striker playing for United at the time.

He inked the United crest on his forehead subsequently as a demonstration against the legal rulings and in his last few years it became increasingly hard for him to continue his legal battle. Job opportunities were scarce and he lost his mother to the virus. But he managed to continue. Originally of Catholic faith, he was christened in an religious institution under the name the identity he sought. “Ultimately, my true name is recognized with my chosen name,” he would frequently remark.

This Monday, 13 October, his heart stopped beating. It is possible that the club's persistent fan could finally find peace.