2002–03 FA Premier League


The 2002–03 FA Premier League 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 virtue of defending champions Arsenal having 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 in their next game at West Ham United failed to extend it, being held to a 2–2 draw. They remained unbeaten for 30 Premier League games, until late October. Arsène Wenger's all conquering Gunners scored in a record 55 consecutive league games up until the visit to Old Trafford on 7 December 2002, when Manchester United won 2–0, beating the previous record of 47 set by Chesterfield during the 1930-31 season of Third Division North. They 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. This result all but saved Leeds from relegation. Newcastle United and Chelsea were the remaining two teams, who qualified for the Champions League at the expense of Liverpool who had to settle for the UEFA Cup; they would be joined in Europe by Blackburn Rovers for their second successive season.
On the bottom end of the table, West Ham United, West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland had to face relegation to the Football League First Division. Promoted for the new season 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. This was also both West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City's first season in the Premier League. They replaced Ipswich Town, Derby County and Leicester City.

Stadiums and Locations

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
ArsenalLondon Arsenal Stadium38,419
Aston VillaBirmingham Villa Park42,573
Birmingham CityBirmingham St Andrew's30,009
Blackburn RoversBlackburnEwood Park31,367
Bolton WanderersBoltonReebok Stadium28,723
Charlton AthleticLondon The Valley27,111
ChelseaLondon Stamford Bridge42,055
EvertonLiverpool Goodison Park40,569
FulhamLondon Loftus Road19,148
Leeds UnitedLeedsElland Road40,242
LiverpoolLiverpool Anfield45,522
Manchester CityManchesterMaine Road35,150
Manchester UnitedOld TraffordOld Trafford68,174
MiddlesbroughMiddlesbroughRiverside Stadium35,049
Newcastle UnitedNewcastle upon TyneSt James' Park52,387
SouthamptonSouthamptonSt Mary's Stadium32,689
SunderlandSunderlandStadium of Light49,000
Tottenham HotspurLondon White Hart Lane36,240
West Bromwich AlbionWest BromwichThe Hawthorns28,003
West Ham UnitedLondon Boleyn Ground35,647

Personnel and kits

Managerial changes

League table

Results

Overall

Top scorers

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDate
LiverpoolManchester City28 9 2002
SouthamptonFulham27 10 2002
Manchester UnitedNewcastle United23 11 2002
Tottenham HotspurEverton12 1 2003
ArsenalWest Ham United27 1 2003
Manchester UnitedFulham22 3 2003
Leeds UnitedCharlton Athletic5 4 2003
Manchester UnitedNewcastle United12 4 2003
4LiverpoolWest Bromwich Albion26 4 2003
Manchester UnitedCharlton Athletic3 5 2003
ArsenalSouthampton
7 5 2003
ArsenalSouthampton
7 5 2003
ArsenalSunderland11 5 2003

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:
PlayerTeam
James BeattieSouthampton
Thierry HenryArsenal
Ruud van NistelrooyManchester United
Paul ScholesManchester United
Alan ShearerNewcastle United
Gianfranco ZolaChelsea

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:
PlayerTeam
Craig BellamyNewcastle United
Jermain DefoeWest Ham United
Jermaine JenasNewcastle United
John O'SheaManchester United
Scott ParkerCharlton Athletic
Wayne RooneyEverton

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.
The French striker picked up the ball from his side of the pitch and ran almost, 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.
PosClubGames
played		Red/Yellow
cards		Positive
play		Respect toward
opponents		Respect toward
referee		Behaviour of
team officials		PointsScoreAverage
1Manchester United383323252232262061312328.008.63
2Newcastle United383253182172182001278319.508.41
3Chelsea383143062132212001254313.508.25
4Liverpool383243012242251801254313.508.25
5Manchester City383102882242311941247311.758.20
6Arsenal383153192142121801240310.008.16
7Middlesbrough383182902242291731234308.508.12
8Blackburn Rovers383072922192221781218304.508.01
9Aston Villa383042832122182011218304.508.01
10Everton383042932172141851213303.257.98
11Sunderland383142552202261961211302.757.97
12Fulham383042842032112031205301.257.93
13Leeds United383042902062101941204301.007.92
14West Bromwich Albion383162732192141811203300.757.91
15Southampton383232822212201541200300.007.89
16Tottenham Hotspur383092912152071741196299.007.87
17West Ham United382982812112121911193298.257.85
18Charlton Athletic383162702102141771187296.757.81
19Bolton Wanderers382992792182171611174293.507.72
20Birmingham City382952712012131791159289.757.63