The 2017-18 campaign delivered a devastating end to an era for Sparta Rotterdam, as Kasteelheren slumped to a perilous 17th-place finish in the Eredivisie, ultimately resulting in relegation after losing the play-offs. The season was defined by a mid-season managerial gamble, as the club turned to veteran Dick Advocaat to replace Alex Pastoor in a desperate bid for survival. Leading the line was forward Robert Mühren, whose 7 goals were a crucial but ultimately insufficient contribution in a campaign marked by a porous defense that conceded 75 goals, including a humiliating 7-0 loss to Vitesse. The demotion to the Eerste Divisie remains a painful, defining chapter that saw the historic club hit a low point.