Heerenveen's 2017-2018 campaign was a decent one, but not a season to remember to be honest. Coach Jurgen Streppel had a squad with potential and the eighth spot after 34 matches was even a bit disappointing to be honest as the fans expected more from this team. A defeat on the last day of the season against Feyenoord (2-3) didn't prove to be fatal though as PEC Zwolle failed to win as well. Heerenveen entered the Europa League play-offs, but that didn't turn out into a success at all.
The semi-final against FC Utrecht ended their dream. A 4-3 win in the own Abe Lenstra Stadium put Heerenveen in the perfect position to reach the final, but a 2-1 defeat in Utrecht knocked them out of the competition. The eighth spot and the ticket for the play-offs were enough to reach the season goal, but something was clearly missing.
Reza Goochannejhad for instance didn't impress the fans and the nation this year. The experienced striker managed to bag twenty goals in the previous season, but he only produced nine goals this time around. A player like Martin Odegaard, who came over from Real Madrid on loan again, failed to impress in too many games. There were positive points as well as the homegrown 17-year-old defender Kik Pierie claimed 33 starts this season, which was rather impressive. Most players produced a decent campaign, but it just wasn't enough to push Heerenveen towards the top five. This club will aim for a better finishing position and a bit more entertainment after the summer.
