The 2017-18 campaign for K.A.A. Gent delivered a hard-fought push for European football, ultimately securing a respectable 4th-place finish in the First Division A and a coveted spot in the Europa League. The season was marked by turbulence, including a managerial change from Hein Vanhaezebrouck to Yves Vanderhaeghe in the early months. Spearheading the attack was the versatile Japanese forward Yuya Kubo, whose 11 crucial league goals were a vital contribution in a year built on the squad's resilience to qualify for the Championship Play-offs. This successful season, despite the early-season changes, cemented the club's status among Belgium's elite and remains a defining chapter in The Buffalos' modern history.