The 2016-17 campaign delivered a tense, dramatic survival for Deportivo as Depor clung onto their top-flight status, finishing a crucial 16th in La Liga just one point above the relegation zone. Leading the charge was the relentless forward Florin Andone, whose 12 goals proved decisive in a campaign built on sheer grit and a turbulent period that saw Gaizka Garitano replaced by Pepe Mel mid-season. It was a nervy year that marked their hard-fought successful fight to avoid the drop and remains a key, stressful chapter in their modern history.