Mechelen suffered the most dramatic of relegations in what was a turbulent season that saw three different managers trying to steer the ship of Malinwa towards the safe shore, but it eventually crashed into the rocks on the final day of the regular season, finishing in last place by a single goal margin.
During the summer coach Ferrera was given funds to find young talents and if nothing else he managed to sign several interesting names, with the 18-year-old versatile striker Bande being Mechelen’s best player all season.
Difficult start to the campaign, the players struggled to understand properly Ferrera’s tactics, saw Mechelen having to wait until round 8 for their first win and as they failed to achieve another success in the next three rounds the gaffer was sacked in late October.
Aleksandr Jankovic’s appointment brought some hope as the new gaffer recorded three wins and a draw in his first five games at the helm, but the end of December brought three consecutive defeats and 2018 started with three more losses, which was enough for Jankovic to be sacked too.
Come February and round 25 Van Wijk was given the job with the only task to move Mechelen from the last place in which they collapsed two weeks earlier, but just one win and three draws in his first five games in charge were not enough.
Mechelen probably lost their elite status in round 29 when they suffered dramatic stoppage-time 2:3 away defeat against Standard, despite taking the lead twice and this result meant that Malinwa entered the last round needing larger win compared to Eupen. Mechelen won 2:0 at home against Waasland-Beveren, but as their rivals achieved much bigger success it was Malinwa that swallowed the bitter pill.
