The term has also been used to refer to a club formed by supporters of a major team when a change of ownership or policy causes them to lose faith in the management of their favoured side.
[4] Because there is no single, universally-accepted definition, ascribing the term phoenix club can be disputed depending on the criteria used.
In the early 21st century, numerous Italian clubs endured very severe economic problems, including some famous and historically successful teams.
Some, most notably Fiorentina,[68][69] Napoli,[70][71][72] Parma[73][74] and Torino[75] were each declared formally bankrupt and thus had to reapply to the Italian football authorities to play at a lower level, with new owners and as new corporate entities.
However, all are considered to be the same clubs before and after the bankruptcy rather than separate phoenix entities: they obtained the "sports title" to remain in the Italy football pyramid using clauses in the Article 52 of N.O.I.F.
[87] bIn 2020, FK Aukštaitija acquired the name and history of the club disestablished in 2015 from the bankruptcy administrator.
However the current incarnation of Clydebank is a phoenix, as it was founded by supporters to replace the entity which had moved to Airdrie[108] and had to restart at the bottom of the (Junior) league pyramid.
to continue playing, albeit having to start again in the lowest national division of the Scottish football league system.