The 2015-16 campaign delivered a competitive season for FC Groningen as The Pride of the North finished a respectable 7th in the Eredivisie, securing a place in the European competition play-offs. Leading the charge was the club's talismanic forward Michael de Leeuw, whose 9 goals were vital in a campaign built on domestic consistency and their memorable, albeit brief, first-ever journey into the UEFA Europa League Group Stage. It was a pivotal year that marked the final season for their three-time top scorer before his move abroad and remains a defining chapter of the club's quest for European football.