Defeat, relegation, revival: Clubs that fought back to the top | OneFootball

That’s it, folks – even Carnival has to come to an end! While Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent for the religious, for the party animals it officially signals the end of the festivities.

In keeping with the symbolism of the day, OneFootball looks back at clubs that have taken the expression “Renascer das cinzas” (rebirth from the ashes) literally. Whether it’s a restart in the amateur leagues, rescue by the fans, or help from an archrival – these clubs have proven that there is life after bankruptcy.

SSC Napoli: From Bankruptcy to Scudetto Regulars

Anyone who sees Napoli today as a European powerhouse often forgets the suffering endured by the Partenopei. In 2004, the club was at rock bottom: endless debts, bankruptcy. Film producer Aurelio De Laurentiis re-founded the club as “Napoli Soccer” – the starting shot in Serie C1 (third division).

The rise was rapid: return to Serie A in 2007, renaming back to Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, and a Coppa Italia title. The crowning moment came in 2022/23 with the long-awaited Scudetto after 33 years of waiting. And because it felt so good, Napoli followed up with another championship in the 24/25 season.

Borussia Dortmund: The Near-Bankruptcy and the Klopp Boom

BVB was never officially bankrupt, but in 2005 they were on the brink. After the 2002 championship, megalomania and stadium renovations led to an unprecedented financial crisis.

To survive, the Black and Yellows had to take drastic measures: the pros agreed to wage cuts, and even a €2 million loan from archrival Bayern Munich was needed to cover salaries.

The rescue came with the Klopp era (champions in 2011 & 2012). Today, Dortmund are once again a mainstay in the Champions League. After the 2-0 first-leg win against Atalanta on Tuesday, their chances of reaching the quarterfinals this season look excellent.

Rangers FC: The Long Road Back

In 2012, Glasgow experienced a nightmare. Astronomical debts led to liquidation and forced relegation to the fourth division. The Rangers had to fight their way through the depths of Scottish football, while rivals Celtic collected title after title. In 2020/21 came the triumphant return: the unbeaten championship (title number 55). Celtic has since caught up, but the Rangers are once again a force to be reckoned with.

Parma Calcio: Three Promotions and a Legend

In the 90s, Parma enchanted the world with Buffon, Cannavaro, and Crespo. But the collapse of sponsor Parmalat dragged the club into the abyss. In 2015, it was all over, with €218 million in debt.

Restart in Serie D (amateurs). The miracle: three consecutive promotions back to Serie A! The symbol of this journey was captain Alessandro Lucarelli, who promised to leave the club only after their return to the top flight – and kept his word at age 40. Club legend Gigi Buffon also returned for two years before hanging up his gloves at 45.

AC Fiorentina: The Purple Rebirth

The Viola also saw hell from the inside. In 2002, Fiorentina went bankrupt and had to start over in the fourth division (Serie C2) under the name Florentia Viola. Thanks to the Della Valle family, the club returned to Serie A within two years. Today, Florence is stable, but currently in crisis: with 21 points in 17th place, the Viola are fighting relegation, level on points with Lecce. 

Racing Club: 30,000 Fans Against the End

March 7, 1999 is known in Argentina as the “Day of the Racing Fan.” A court declared the club dissolved due to insurmountable debts. The team was not allowed to play – but 30,000 fans stormed the stadium, even though no match was scheduled, to prevent the closure.

Thanks to this mass protest, Racing was allowed to continue under court supervision. Since then, success has returned: alongside national titles, the club has recently celebrated major continental successes, such as winning the Copa Sudamericana against Cruzeiro and the Recopa against Botafogo.

Big clubs, big stories: What phoenix stories can you think of? Feel free to write them in the comments.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

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