Season | 2002–03 |
---|---|
Dates | 17 August 2002 – 11 May 2003 |
Champions | Manchester United 8th Premier League title 15th English title |
Relegated | West Ham United West Bromwich Albion Sunderland |
Champions League | Manchester United Arsenal Newcastle United Chelsea |
UEFA Cup | Southampton Blackburn Rovers Liverpool Manchester City (through UEFA Respect Fair Play ranking) |
Matches played | 380 |
Goals scored | 1,000 (2.63 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Ruud van Nistelrooy (25 goals) |
Best goalkeeper | Brad Friedel (15 clean sheets) |
Biggest home win | Chelsea 5–0 Manchester City (22 March 2003) Arsenal 6–1 Southampton (7 May 2003) |
Biggest away win | West Bromwich Albion 0–6 Liverpool (26 April 2003) |
Highest scoring | Manchester United 5–3 Newcastle United (23 November 2002) Newcastle United 2–6 Manchester United (12 April 2003) |
Longest winning run | 7 games [1] Liverpool |
Longest unbeaten run | 18 games [1] Manchester United |
Longest winless run | 20 games [1] Sunderland |
Longest losing run | 15 games [1] Sunderland |
Highest attendance | 67,721 Manchester United 4–1 Charlton Athletic (3 May 2003) |
Lowest attendance | 14,017 Fulham 0–4 Blackburn Rovers (7 April 2003) |
Total attendance | 13,476,455 [2] |
Average attendance | 35,464 [2] |
← 2001–02 2003–04 → |
The 2002–03 FA Premier League (known as the FA Barclaycard Premiership for sponsorship reasons) was the 11th season of the Premier League, the top division in English football. The first matches were played on 17 August 2002 and the last were played on 11 May 2003.
Manchester United ended the campaign as champions for the eighth time in eleven years – an achievement made all the more remarkable by the fact that defending champions Arsenal had been in the lead by eight points on 2 March. After defeating Birmingham at the start of the season, Arsenal equalled a top-flight record of fourteen straight wins but failed to extend it in their next game at West Ham United, being held to a 2–2 draw. They remained unbeaten for 30 Premier League games, 23 of which were played away, until late October, and scored in a record 55 consecutive league games, beating the previous record of 47 set by Chesterfield during the 1930-31 Third Division North season. This run ended at Old Trafford on 7 December 2002, when Manchester United won 2–0. [3] Arsenal then threw away a priceless lead against Bolton Wanderers and finally surrendered the title with a 3–2 home defeat to Leeds United in their antepenultimate game of the season, a result that also saved Leeds from relegation. Newcastle United and Chelsea were the remaining Champions League qualifiers, at the expense of Liverpool who had to settle for the UEFA Cup; they would be joined in Europe by Blackburn Rovers for a second successive season, along with Southampton who were back in Europe for the first time since 1984.
At the bottom end of the table, West Ham United, West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland were relegated to the Football League First Division; West Ham's 42 points from a 38-game season was a record for a relegated team. Promoted to replace them were 2002–03 Football League First Division champions Portsmouth, runners-up Leicester City, and play-off winner Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Twenty teams competed in the league – the top seventeen teams from the previous season and the three teams promoted from the First Division. The promoted teams were Manchester City, West Bromwich Albion, and Birmingham City, who returned after one and sixteen years respectively. This was also both West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City's first season in the Premier League. They replaced Ipswich Town (relegated to the First Division after two seasons in the top flight), Derby County, and Leicester City (both teams relegated after a six-year presence).
Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leeds United | ![]() | Sacked | 27 June 2002 | Pre-season | ![]() | 8 July 2002 |
Sunderland | ![]() | 7 October 2002 [4] | 17th | ![]() | 10 October 2002 [5] | |
![]() | 10 March 2003 [6] | 20th | ![]() | 12 March 2003 [7] | ||
Leeds United | ![]() | 21 March 2003 [8] | 15th | ![]() | 21 March 2003 [9] | |
Fulham | ![]() | 17 April 2003 [10] | 15th | ![]() | 17 April 2003 | |
West Ham United | ![]() | Illness | 22 April 2003 [11] | 18th | ![]() | 25 April 2003 |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Manchester United (C) | 38 | 25 | 8 | 5 | 74 | 34 | +40 | 83 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
2 | Arsenal | 38 | 23 | 9 | 6 | 85 | 42 | +43 | 78 | |
3 | Newcastle United | 38 | 21 | 6 | 11 | 63 | 48 | +15 | 69 | Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round |
4 | Chelsea | 38 | 19 | 10 | 9 | 68 | 38 | +30 | 67 | |
5 | Liverpool | 38 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 61 | 41 | +20 | 64 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round [lower-alpha 1] |
6 | Blackburn Rovers | 38 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 52 | 43 | +9 | 60 | |
7 | Everton | 38 | 17 | 8 | 13 | 48 | 49 | −1 | 59 | |
8 | Southampton | 38 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 43 | 46 | −3 | 52 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round [lower-alpha 2] |
9 | Manchester City | 38 | 15 | 6 | 17 | 47 | 54 | −7 | 51 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup qualifying round [lower-alpha 3] |
10 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 51 | 62 | −11 | 50 | |
11 | Middlesbrough | 38 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 48 | 44 | +4 | 49 | |
12 | Charlton Athletic | 38 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 45 | 56 | −11 | 49 | |
13 | Birmingham City | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 41 | 49 | −8 | 48 | |
14 | Fulham | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 41 | 50 | −9 | 48 | |
15 | Leeds United | 38 | 14 | 5 | 19 | 58 | 57 | +1 | 47 | |
16 | Aston Villa | 38 | 12 | 9 | 17 | 42 | 47 | −5 | 45 | |
17 | Bolton Wanderers | 38 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 41 | 51 | −10 | 44 | |
18 | West Ham United (R) | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 42 | 59 | −17 | 42 | Relegation to Football League First Division |
19 | West Bromwich Albion (R) | 38 | 6 | 8 | 24 | 29 | 65 | −36 | 26 | |
20 | Sunderland (R) | 38 | 4 | 7 | 27 | 21 | 65 | −44 | 19 |
Rank | Player | Club | Goals [12] |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | Manchester United | 25 |
2 | ![]() | Arsenal | 24 |
3 | ![]() | Southampton | 23 |
4 | ![]() | Leeds United | 20 |
5 | ![]() | Liverpool | 19 |
6 | ![]() | Newcastle United | 17 |
7 | ![]() | Manchester City | 15 |
8 | ![]() | Chelsea | 14 |
![]() | Arsenal | 14 | |
![]() | Leeds United | 14 | |
![]() | Manchester United | 14 |
Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Michael Owen | Liverpool | Manchester City | 3–0 | 28 September 2002 |
James Beattie | Southampton | Fulham | 4–2 | 27 October 2002 |
Ruud van Nistelrooy | Manchester United | Newcastle United | 5–3 | 23 November 2002 |
Robbie Keane | Tottenham Hotspur | Everton | 4–3 | 12 January 2003 |
Thierry Henry | Arsenal | West Ham United | 3–1 | 27 January 2003 |
Ruud van Nistelrooy | Manchester United | Fulham | 3–0 | 22 March 2003 |
Mark Viduka | Leeds United | Charlton Athletic | 6–1 | 5 April 2003 |
Paul Scholes | Manchester United | Newcastle United | 6–2 | 12 April 2003 |
Michael Owen 4 | Liverpool | West Bromwich Albion | 6–0 | 26 April 2003 |
Ruud van Nistelrooy | Manchester United | Charlton Athletic | 4–1 | 3 May 2003 |
Jermaine Pennant | Arsenal | Southampton | 6–1 | 7 May 2003 |
Robert Pires | ||||
Freddie Ljungberg | Arsenal | Sunderland | 4–0 | 11 May 2003 |
Month | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manager | Club | Player | Club | |
August | Glenn Hoddle [17] | Tottenham Hotspur | Sylvain Wiltord [18] | Arsenal |
September | Arsène Wenger [19] | Arsenal | Thierry Henry [19] | Arsenal |
October | Gérard Houllier [20] | Liverpool | Gianfranco Zola [20] | Chelsea |
November | David Moyes [21] | Everton | James Beattie [22] | Southampton |
December | Gordon Strachan [23] | Southampton | Alan Shearer [24] | Newcastle United |
January | Sir Bobby Robson [25] | Newcastle United | Paul Scholes [26] | Manchester United |
February | Alan Curbishley [27] | Charlton Athletic | Robert Pires [28] | Arsenal |
March | Glenn Roeder [29] | West Ham United | Steven Gerrard [30] | Liverpool |
April | Sir Alex Ferguson [31] | Manchester United | Ruud van Nistelrooy [31] | Manchester United |
The PFA Players' Player of the Year award for 2003 was won by Thierry Henry of Arsenal. [32] This was the Frenchman's first award of the season and he beat off competition from the previous winner Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The shortlist for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award, in alphabetical order, was as follows:
Player | Team |
---|---|
James Beattie | Southampton |
Thierry Henry | Arsenal |
Ruud van Nistelrooy | Manchester United |
Paul Scholes | Manchester United |
Alan Shearer | Newcastle United |
Gianfranco Zola | Chelsea |
The PFA Young Player of the Year award was won by Jermaine Jenas of Newcastle United. [33] Wayne Rooney was voted runner-up, and John O'Shea finished third in one of his first full seasons as a United player.
The shortlist for the award was as follows:
Player | Team |
---|---|
Craig Bellamy | Newcastle United |
Jermain Defoe | West Ham United |
Jermaine Jenas | Newcastle United |
John O'Shea | Manchester United |
Scott Parker | Charlton Athletic |
Wayne Rooney | Everton |
PFA Team of the Year |
Goalkeeper: | Brad Friedel (Blackburn Rovers) |
Defence: | Stephen Carr (Tottenham Hotspur), Sol Campbell (Arsenal), William Gallas (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Arsenal) |
Midfield: | Patrick Vieira (Arsenal), Paul Scholes (Manchester United), Kieron Dyer (Newcastle United), Robert Pires (Arsenal) |
Attack: | Thierry Henry (Arsenal), Alan Shearer (Newcastle United) |
The Premier League Manager of the Year award was won by Sir Alex Ferguson [34] for winning his eighth title and regaining the league after a superb second half to the season, involving an 18-match unbeaten run.
The Premier League Player of the Year award was given to Ruud van Nistelrooy, [35] whose form, creativity and goals all helped Manchester United regain the league from Arsenal.
The Premier League Golden Boot award was also won by Ruud van Nistelrooy who scored 25 goals in 38 league matches and 44 in all competitions. He also equalled his record of eight goals in eight successive matches at the beginning of the season, a milestone he had reached the previous season. Van Nistelrooy finished one goal ahead of Arsenal's Thierry Henry while James Beattie managed 23 league goals for Southampton.
The Premier League Golden Gloves award was given to Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini, who proved vital in their quest for UEFA Champions League football. He kept twelve clean sheets – the most in the season – and only conceded 35 goals. Viewers of ITV's On the Ball voted Cudicini, ahead of Southampton keeper Antti Niemi, and Blackburn Rovers' Brad Friedel. [36]
The annual award was won by a wonder goal from Thierry Henry against Tottenham Hotspur, on 16 November 2002, voted by viewers of ITV's The Premiership.
Henry – chance for a break out, Wiltord to his right, Bergkamp to his left...they'll do well to catch up with Thierry Henry though...he's drifted away from Carr – HENRY! What a fabulous solo goal by Thierry Henry. A long distance goal followed by a long distance celebration...and Arsenal are back in the goalscoring business, after their midweek blank. Henry's been short of a goal or two just recently...but look at the confidence as he breaks from inside his own half, shrugging off Etherington, stepping away from Carr and from King...and picking his spot – he had options...but he had eyes for only one thing – the back of Kasey Keller's net. Thierry Henry moves into double figures for the season.
— Clive Tyldesley on Thierry Henry's solo goal when commentating the North London derby for The Premiership on ITV1. [37]
The French striker picked up the ball from his side of the pitch and ran almost 30 yards (27 m), twisting and turning the Spurs defence to unleash a thunderous shot. In celebration, he ran the distance of the whole pitch and skidded in front of the Spurs faithful. The goal proved important as it helped them regain their position at the top of the Premiership from Liverpool.
The Premier League Fair Play Award was won by Manchester United. [38]
Pos | Club | Games played | Red/Yellow cards | Positive play | Respect toward opponents | Respect toward referee | Behaviour of team officials | Points | Score | Average |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Manchester United | 38 | 332 | 325 | 223 | 226 | 206 | 1312 | 328.00 | 8.63 |
2 | Newcastle United | 38 | 325 | 318 | 217 | 218 | 200 | 1278 | 319.50 | 8.41 |
3 | Chelsea | 38 | 314 | 306 | 213 | 221 | 200 | 1254 | 313.50 | 8.25 |
4 | Liverpool | 38 | 324 | 301 | 224 | 225 | 180 | 1254 | 313.50 | 8.25 |
5 | Manchester City | 38 | 310 | 288 | 224 | 231 | 194 | 1247 | 311.75 | 8.20 |
6 | Arsenal | 38 | 315 | 319 | 214 | 212 | 180 | 1240 | 310.00 | 8.16 |
7 | Middlesbrough | 38 | 318 | 290 | 224 | 229 | 173 | 1234 | 308.50 | 8.12 |
8 | Blackburn Rovers | 38 | 307 | 292 | 219 | 222 | 178 | 1218 | 304.50 | 8.01 |
9 | Aston Villa | 38 | 304 | 283 | 212 | 218 | 201 | 1218 | 304.50 | 8.01 |
10 | Everton | 38 | 304 | 293 | 217 | 214 | 185 | 1213 | 303.25 | 7.98 |
11 | Sunderland | 38 | 314 | 255 | 220 | 226 | 196 | 1211 | 302.75 | 7.97 |
12 | Fulham | 38 | 304 | 284 | 203 | 211 | 203 | 1205 | 301.25 | 7.93 |
13 | Leeds United | 38 | 304 | 290 | 206 | 210 | 194 | 1204 | 301.00 | 7.92 |
14 | West Bromwich Albion | 38 | 316 | 273 | 219 | 214 | 181 | 1203 | 300.75 | 7.91 |
15 | Southampton | 38 | 323 | 282 | 221 | 220 | 154 | 1200 | 300.00 | 7.89 |
16 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 309 | 291 | 215 | 207 | 174 | 1196 | 299.00 | 7.87 |
17 | West Ham United | 38 | 298 | 281 | 211 | 212 | 191 | 1193 | 298.25 | 7.85 |
18 | Charlton Athletic | 38 | 316 | 270 | 210 | 214 | 177 | 1187 | 296.75 | 7.81 |
19 | Bolton Wanderers | 38 | 299 | 279 | 218 | 217 | 161 | 1174 | 293.50 | 7.72 |
20 | Birmingham City | 38 | 295 | 271 | 201 | 213 | 179 | 1159 | 289.75 | 7.63 |
The 2003–04 FA Premier League was the 12th season of the Premier League. Arsenal were crowned champions ending the season without a single defeat – the first team ever to do so in a 38-game league season. Chelsea finished second to Arsenal.
The 2004–05 FA Premier League was the 13th season of the Premier League. It began on 14 August 2004 and ended on 15 May 2005. Arsenal were the defending champions after going unbeaten the previous season. Chelsea won the title with a then record 95 points, which was previously set by Manchester United in the 1993–94 season, and later surpassed by Manchester City in the 2017–18 season (100), securing the title with a 2–0 win at the Reebok Stadium against Bolton Wanderers. Chelsea also broke a number of other records during their campaign, most notably breaking the record of most games won in a single Premier League campaign, securing 29 wins in the league in home and away matches, which was later surpassed by themselves in the 2016–17 season.
The 2002–03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.
The 2005–06 FA Premier League was the 14th season of the Premier League. It began on 13 August 2005, and concluded on 7 May 2006. The season saw Chelsea retain their title after defeating Manchester United 3–0 at Stamford Bridge towards the end of April. On the same day, West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City were relegated, joining Sunderland in the Championship for the following season. Chelsea drew the record they set the previous season, with 29 wins in home and away campaigns.
The 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.
The 2006–07 FA Premier League was the 15th season of the FA Premier League since its establishment in 1992. The season started on 19 August 2006 and concluded on 13 May 2007. Chelsea were the two-time defending champions.
The 2008–09 Premier League was the 17th season since the establishment of the Premier League in 1992. The season began on Saturday, 16 August 2008, and ended on 24 May 2009. The fixtures were announced on 16 June 2008. A total of 20 teams contested the league, consisting of 17 who competed in the previous season and three promoted from the Football League Championship. The new match ball was the Nike T90 Omni.
The 2002–03 season was Chelsea's 89th competitive season, 11th consecutive season in the Premier League and 97th year as a club. The club was managed by Claudio Ranieri.
The 2002–03 season was Manchester United's 11th season in the Premier League, and their 28th consecutive season in the top division of English football. This season saw the club finish at the top of the Premier League table, after their lowest finish in the history of the Premier League the previous season, when they came third. In order to win the title, the team had to pull Arsenal back from an eight-point lead at the beginning of March. United also finished as runners-up in the League Cup, with Liverpool eventually taking the prize. The club also broke the English transfer record for the third time in just over a year as they paid £29.1 million for Leeds United defender Rio Ferdinand.
The 2008–09 season was Bolton Wanderers 10th season in the Premier League, and their eighth consecutive season in the top division of English football and covers the period from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009. As they failed to win the 2008–09 Premier League title it was the 70th time that they have competed at the top level without winning the title, the most of any club.
The 2002–03 season was Arsenal Football Club's 11th season in the Premier League and their 77th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. The club retained the FA Cup, a feat last achieved by Tottenham Hotspur in 1982, but finished runners-up to Manchester United in the Premier League. In the UEFA Champions League, defeat to Valencia in the second group stage meant Arsenal exited the competition at the same round for the second successive year.
The 2004–05 season was the 127th season in Bolton Wanderers F.C.'s existence, and was their fourth consecutive year in the top-flight. This article covers the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005.
The 2002–03 season was West Bromwich Albion's first season in the Premier League, and their first season in the top division of English football since 1985–86.
During the 2004–05 English football season, Crystal Palace competed in the FA Premier League, following promotion from the First Division the previous season.
The 2002–03 season saw Leeds United competing in the FA Premier League and the UEFA Cup.
During the 2002–03 English football season, Blackburn Rovers competed in the FA Premier League.
The 2002–03 season was Tottenham Hotspur's 11th season in the Premier League and 25th successive season in the top division of the English football league system.
The 2002–03 season saw West Ham United relegated from the FA Premier League after a 10 year run in the top flight. West Ham were relegated to the First Division at the end of the season, finishing in 18th place.