The 2016-17 campaign was a season of dramatic, mid-season turbulence and eventual resurgence for FC Nantes. Les Canaris suffered a disastrous start under manager René Girard, who left in December with the team languishing in 19th place in the table. The subsequent arrival of Sérgio Conceição sparked a spectacular turnaround, with the team dramatically pulling away from the relegation zone and surging up the table. Spearheading this revival was the prolific centre-forward Emiliano Sala, whose 12 league goals (15 across all competitions) anchored the attack and proved vital. This remarkable recovery culminated in a highly respectable 7th-place finish in Ligue 1 and remains a defining chapter of a season built on the grit and fighting spirit of Les Canaris.