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 one of their last games 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 (immediately returning after a season's absence), West Bromwich Albion, and Birmingham City (both teams returning to the top flight after a sixteen-year absence). 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
Team Location Stadium CapacityArsenalLondon Arsenal Stadium 38,419Aston VillaBirmingham Villa Park 42,573Birmingham CityBirmingham St Andrew's 30,009Blackburn RoversBlackburnEwood Park 31,367Bolton WanderersBoltonReebok Stadium 28,723Charlton AthleticLondon The Valley 27,111ChelseaLondon Stamford Bridge 42,055EvertonLiverpool Goodison Park 40,569FulhamLondon Loftus Road 19,148Leeds UnitedLeedsElland Road 40,242LiverpoolLiverpool Anfield 45,522Manchester CityManchester Maine Road 35,150Manchester UnitedManchester Old Trafford 68,174MiddlesbroughMiddlesbroughRiverside Stadium 35,049Newcastle UnitedNewcastle upon TyneSt James' Park 52,387SouthamptonSouthamptonSt Mary's Stadium 32,689SunderlandSunderlandStadium of Light 49,000Tottenham HotspurLondon White Hart Lane 36,240West Bromwich AlbionWest BromwichThe Hawthorns 28,003West Ham UnitedLondon Boleyn Ground 35,647
Personnel and kits Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsorArsenal Arsène Wenger Patrick VieiraNikeO2Aston Villa Graham Taylor Steve StauntonDiadoraRover CompanyBirmingham City Steve Bruce Jeff KennaLe Coq SportifPhones4UBlackburn Rovers Graeme Souness Garry FlitcroftKappaAMD ProcessorsBolton Wanderers Sam Allardyce Guðni BergssonReebokReebokCharlton Athletic Alan Curbishley Graham StuartLe Coq SportifAll SportChelsea Claudio Ranieri Marcel DesaillyUmbroFly EmiratesEverton David Moyes David WeirPumaKejianFulham Chris Coleman Andy MelvilleAdidasBetfairLeeds United Peter Reid Dominic MatteoNikeStrongbowLiverpool Gérard Houllier Sami HyypiäReebokCarlsbergManchester City Kevin Keegan Ali BenarbiaLe Coq SportifFirst AdviceManchester United Sir Alex Ferguson Roy KeaneNikeVodafoneMiddlesbrough Steve McClaren Gareth SouthgateErreàDial-a-PhoneNewcastle United Sir Bobby Robson Alan ShearerAdidasNTLSouthampton Gordon Strachan Jason DoddSaintsFriends ProvidentSunderland Mick McCarthy Michael GrayNikeReg VardyTottenham Hotspur Glenn Hoddle Teddy SheringhamKappaThomsonWest Bromwich Albion Gary Megson Sean GreganThe Baggies (by club)West Bromwich Building SocietyWest Ham United Trevor Brooking (caretaker) Joe ColeFilaDr. Martens
Managerial changes Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointmentLeeds United David O'LearySacked 27 June 2002 Pre-season Terry Venables 8 July 2002Sunderland 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
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 RankPlayerClubGoals1 Ruud van NistelrooyManchester United252 Thierry HenryArsenal243 James BeattieSouthampton234 Mark VidukaLeeds United205 Michael OwenLiverpool196 Alan ShearerNewcastle United177 Nicolas AnelkaManchester City158 Gianfranco ZolaChelsea14 Robert PiresArsenal14 Harry KewellLeeds United14 Paul ScholesManchester United14
Hat-tricks
Player For Against Result Date Liverpool Manchester City 3–0 Southampton Fulham 4–2 Manchester United Newcastle United 5–3 Tottenham Hotspur Everton 4–3 Arsenal West Ham United 3–1 Manchester United Fulham 3–0 Leeds United Charlton Athletic 6–1 Manchester United Newcastle United 6–2 4 Liverpool West Bromwich Albion 6–0 Manchester United Charlton Athletic 4–1 Arsenal Southampton 6–1 Arsenal Sunderland 4–0 4 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 MonthManager of the MonthPlayer of the MonthAugust Arsène Wenger (Arsenal) Teddy Sheringham (Portsmouth)September Claudio Ranieri (Chelsea) Frank Lampard (Chelsea)October Sir Bobby Robson (Newcastle United) Alan Shearer (Newcastle United)November Sam Allardyce (Bolton Wanderers) Jay-Jay Okocha (Bolton Wanderers)December Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United) Paul Scholes (Manchester United)January Sam Allardyce (Bolton Wanderers) Thierry Henry (Arsenal)February Arsène Wenger (Arsenal) Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal) & Edu (Arsenal)March Claudio Ranieri (Chelsea) Mikael Forssell (Birmingham City)April Harry Redknapp (Portsmouth) Thierry Henry (Arsenal) Annual awards
Award Winner Team PFA Players' Player of the Year Thierry Henry Arsenal PFA Young Player of the Year Jermaine Jenas Newcastle United Premier League Manager of the Year Sir Alex Ferguson Manchester United Premier League Player of the Year Ruud van Nistelrooy Manchester United Premier League Golden Boot Ruud van Nistelrooy Manchester United Premier League Golden Glove Carlo Cudicini Chelsea Goal of the Season Thierry Henry Arsenal PFA Team of the Year 2002–03 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 Kieron Dyer (Newcastle United) Paul Scholes (Manchester United) Patrick Vieira (Arsenal) Robert Pires (Arsenal) Attack Alan Shearer (Newcastle United) Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
See also 2002–03 in English football 2003–04 FA Premier League
Attendances Source:
No. Club Matches Total attendance Average 1 Manchester United 19 1,284,434 67,602 2 Newcastle United 19 986,542 51,923 3 Liverpool FC 19 821,612 43,243 4 Chelsea FC 19 755,896 39,784 5 Sunderland AFC 19 754,267 39,698 6 Leeds United 19 743,279 39,120 7 Everton FC 19 731,134 38,481 8 Arsenal FC 19 722,795 38,042 9 Tottenham Hotspur 19 682,049 35,897 10 Aston Villa 19 664,533 34,975 11 Manchester City 19 656,730 34,565 12 West Ham United 19 654,209 34,432 13 Middlesbrough FC 19 589,480 31,025 14 Southampton FC 19 582,928 30,680 15 Birmingham City 19 548,781 28,883 16 West Bromwich Albion 19 507,888 26,731 17 Charlton Athletic 19 498,855 26,256 18 Blackburn Rovers 19 498,287 26,226 19 Bolton Wanderers 19 475,322 25,017 20 Fulham FC 19 317,434 16,707
References
External links 2002–03 Premier League Season at RSSSF 2002–03 FA Premier League Review Soccerbot's 2002–03 Premier League Review Barclaycard Premiership club-by-club Season Review