The 2016-17 campaign delivered ultimate heartbreak for 1860 Munich as Die Löwen finished a perilous 16th in the 2. Bundesliga. The team, relying on Michael Liendl's 8 crucial goals, faced a do-or-die relegation play-off that ended in a crushing home defeat against Jahn Regensburg. This sporting failure was dramatically compounded by investor Hasan Ismaik's subsequent refusal to pay the necessary license fee, which resulted in administrative relegation to the fourth tier, the Regionalliga Bayern. It was a devastating and unforgettable year that saw the historic club hit its lowest point in modern history.