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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. 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.

Teams

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).

Stadiums and locations

1. Fulham temporarily relocated to Loftus Road (home stadium of Queens Park Rangers) after Craven Cottage was in need of a refurbishment.
2. This was Manchester City's last season at Maine Road as they were scheduled to relocate to the 48,000 seater City of Manchester Stadium.

Personnel and kits

Team	Manager	Captain	Kit manufacturer	Shirt sponsor
Arsenal	Arsène Wenger	Patrick Vieira	Nike	O2
Aston Villa	Graham Taylor	Steve Staunton	Diadora	Rover Company
Birmingham City	Steve Bruce	Jeff Kenna	Le Coq Sportif	Phones4U
Blackburn Rovers	Graeme Souness	Garry Flitcroft	Kappa	AMD Processors
Bolton Wanderers	Sam Allardyce	Guðni Bergsson	Reebok	Reebok
Charlton Athletic	Alan Curbishley	Graham Stuart	Le Coq Sportif	All Sport
Chelsea	Claudio Ranieri	Marcel Desailly	Umbro	Fly Emirates
Everton	David Moyes	David Weir	Puma	Kejian
Fulham	Chris Coleman	Andy Melville	Adidas	Betfair
Leeds United	Peter Reid	Dominic Matteo	Nike	Strongbow
Liverpool	Gérard Houllier	Sami Hyypiä	Reebok	Carlsberg
Manchester City	Kevin Keegan	Ali Benarbia	Le Coq Sportif	First Advice
Manchester United	Sir Alex Ferguson	Roy Keane	Nike	Vodafone
Middlesbrough	Steve McClaren	Gareth Southgate	Erreà	Dial-a-Phone
Newcastle United	Sir Bobby Robson	Alan Shearer	Adidas	NTL
Southampton	Gordon Strachan	Jason Dodd	Saints	Friends Provident
Sunderland	Mick McCarthy	Michael Gray	Nike	Reg Vardy
Tottenham Hotspur	Glenn Hoddle	Teddy Sheringham	Kappa	Thomson
West Bromwich Albion	Gary Megson	Sean Gregan	The Baggies (by club)	West Bromwich Building Society
West Ham United	Trevor Brooking (caretaker)	Joe Cole	Fila	Dr. Martens

Managerial changes

Team	Outgoing manager	Manner of departure	Date of vacancy	Position in table	Incoming manager	Date of appointment
Leeds United	David O'Leary	Sacked	27 June 2002	Pre-season	Terry Venables	8 July 2002
Sunderland	Peter Reid		7 October 2002	17th	Howard Wilkinson	10 October 2002
	Howard Wilkinson		10 March 2003	20th	Mick McCarthy	12 March 2003
Leeds United	Terry Venables		21 March 2003	15th	Peter Reid	21 March 2003
Fulham	Jean Tigana		17 April 2003	15th	Chris Coleman (caretaker)	17 April 2003
West Ham United	Glenn Roeder	Illness	22 April 2003	18th	Trevor Brooking (caretaker)	25 April 2003

League table

1. Since Liverpool qualified for the UEFA Cup via the league, their place in the UEFA Cup as League Cup winners reverted to the league and was awarded to Blackburn Rovers as the highest-placed team not already qualified for European competitions.
2. Since Arsenal qualified for the Champions League, their place in the UEFA Cup as FA Cup winners went to Southampton, who were the FA Cup runners-up.
3. Manchester City qualified as the highest-ranked team not already qualified for European competitions of Premiership Fair Play League by The Football Association, the top association among UEFA Fair Play ranking winners.

Results

Overall

• Most wins – Manchester United (25)
• Fewest wins – Sunderland (4)
• Most draws – Bolton Wanderers (14)
• Fewest draws – Leeds United (5)
• Most losses – Sunderland (27)
• Fewest losses – Manchester United (5)
• Most goals scored – Arsenal (85)
• Fewest goals scored – Sunderland (21)
• Most goals conceded – West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland (65)
• Fewest goals conceded – Manchester United (34)

Season statistics

Scoring

• First goal of the season:
  Michael Ricketts for Bolton Wanderers against Fulham (17 August 2002)
• Last goal of the season:
  Mark Viduka for Leeds United against Aston Villa (11 May 2003)

Top scorers

Rank	Player	Club	Goals
1	Ruud van Nistelrooy	Manchester United	25
2	Thierry Henry	Arsenal	24
3	James Beattie	Southampton	23
4	Mark Viduka	Leeds United	20
5	Michael Owen	Liverpool	19
6	Alan Shearer	Newcastle United	17
7	Nicolas Anelka	Manchester City	15
8	Gianfranco Zola	Chelsea	14
	Robert Pires	Arsenal	14
	Harry Kewell	Leeds United	14
	Paul Scholes	Manchester United	14

Hat-tricks

• Player scored 4 goals

Scoring

• First goal of the season: Michael Ricketts for Bolton Wanderers against Fulham (17 August 2002)
• Fastest goal of the season:
• Largest winning margin: 6 goals
  • West Bromwich Albion 0–6 Liverpool (26 April 2003)
• Highest scoring game: 8 goals
  • Manchester United 5–3 Newcastle United (23 November 2002)
  • Newcastle United 2–6 Manchester United (12 April 2003)
• Most goals scored in a match by a losing team: 3 goals
  • West Ham United 3–4 Leeds United (10 November 2002)
  • Manchester United 5–3 Newcastle United (23 November 2002)
  • Bolton Wanderers 4–3 Newcastle United (26 December 2002)
  • Tottenham Hotspur 4–3 Everton (12 January 2003)

Clean sheets

• Most clean sheets: 15
  • Blackburn Rovers
• Fewest clean sheets: 5
  • Tottenham Hotspur

Discipline

• Worst overall disciplinary record (1 pt per yellow card, 3 pts per red card):
• Best overall disciplinary record:
• Most yellow cards (club):
• Most yellow cards (player): 13 – Iván Campo (Bolton Wanderers)
• Most red cards (club):
• Most red card (player): 3
  • Franck Queudrue (Middlesbrough)
• Most fouls (player):

Awards

Monthly awards

Annual awards

PFA Players' Player of the Year

The PFA Players' Player of the Year award for 2003 was won by Thierry Henry of Arsenal. 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:

PFA Young Player of the Year

The PFA Young Player of the Year award was won by Jermaine Jenas of Newcastle United. 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:

PFA Team of the Year

Friedel Carr Campbell Gallas Cole Vieira Scholes Dyer Pires Henry Shearer PFA Team of the Year

Premier League Manager of the Year

The Premier League Manager of the Year award was won by Sir Alex Ferguson for winning his eighth title and regaining the league after a superb second half to the season, involving an 18-match unbeaten run.

Premier League Player of the Year

The Premier League Player of the Year award was given to Ruud van Nistelrooy, whose form, creativity and goals all helped Manchester United regain the league from Arsenal.

Premier League Golden Boot

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.

Premier League Golden Gloves

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.

Goal of the Season

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.

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.

Premier League Fair Play Award

The Premier League Fair Play Award was won by Manchester United.

See also

• 2002–03 in English football
• 2003–04 FA Premier League

References

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2. ^ "Premier League 2002/2003 » Attendance » Home matches". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
3. "Arsenal break more records".
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5. "Wilkinson takes Sunderland job". BBC Sport. 10 October 2002. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
6. "Sunderland sack Wilkinson". BBC Sport. 10 March 2003. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
7. "McCarthy unveiled as Sunderland boss". BBC Sport. 12 March 2003. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
8. "Venables leaves Leeds". BBC Sport. 21 March 2003. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
9. "Leeds turn to Reid". BBC Sport. 21 March 2003. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
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15. "Results – Season: 2002–2003". Premier League. Archived from the original on 10 December 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
16. ^ "Barclays Premier League Stats: Player Discipline – 2002–03". ESPN Soccernet. ESPN. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
17. "Hoddle wins manager award". BBC Sport. 10 September 2002. Retrieved 11 May 2008.
18. "Wiltord bags award". BBC Sport. 10 September 2002. Retrieved 11 May 2008.
19. ^ "Arsenal duo bag awards". BBC Sport. 4 October 2002. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
20. ^ "Houllier, Zola bag awards". BBC Sport. 1 November 2002. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
21. "Moyes named top boss". BBC Sport. 5 December 2002. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
22. "Beattie bags award". BBC Sport. 6 December 2002. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
23. "Strachan is December's man". BBC Sport. 9 January 2003. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
24. "Shearer lands award". BBC Sport. 10 January 2003. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
25. "Robson named top boss". BBC Sport. 7 February 2003. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
26. "Scholes scoops award". BBC Sport. 7 February 2003. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
27. "Curbishley is top boss". BBC Sport. 28 February 2003. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
28. "Pires is player of the month". BBC Sport. 10 March 2003. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
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30. "Gerrard takes honour". BBC Sport. 10 April 2003. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
31. ^ "Man Utd pair scoop awards". BBC Sport. 2 May 2003. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
32. McKechnie, David (28 April 2003). "Henry lands PFA award". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
33. "Hart hails Jenas PFA award". BBC Sport. 28 April 2003. Retrieved 28 April 2003.
34. "Fergie scoops year award". 4TheGame. 31 July 2003. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
35. "Van Nistelrooy does awards double". 4TheGame. 14 May 2003. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
36. "Cudicini scoops golden gloves award". 4TheGame. 16 May 2003. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
37. via Arsenal's Season Review 2002–03 & airings of The Premiership on 16 & 17 Nov, 7 Dec 2002 and penultimate broadcasting for the season.
38. "Barclaycard Premiership 2002/2003 Fair Play League" (PDF). FA Premier League. 16 May 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2003. Retrieved 22 March 2012.

External links

• 2002–03 Premier League Season at RSSSF
• 2002–03 FA Premier League Review Archived 23 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
• Soccerbot's 2002–03 Premier League Review
• Barclaycard Premiership club-by-club Season Review

• 2002–03 FA Premier League
• Premier League seasons
• 2002–03 in European association football leagues
• 2002–03 in English football leagues