2002–03 Manchester United F.C. season
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.
At the end of the season, United midfielder David Beckham decided to move to Real Madrid in a £25 million deal, having spent 12 years at United. Meanwhile, 37-year-old centre-back Laurent Blanc announced his retirement from playing. Fellow centre-back David May was finally given a free transfer after nine years at the club, the last five of which had seen his first team opportunities limited to a handful of appearances.
Season review
After ending the previous season by surrendering the title to Arsenal at home and finishing third behind rejuvenated Liverpool, Alex Ferguson reiterated his desire to dominate English football by signing a three-year contract in the late winter of 2002. By the end of the season, Ferguson got his wish and bagged Manchester United their fifteenth domestic league title, thanks largely to the form of striker Ruud van Nistelrooy who scored an impressive 25 goals during the run-in. The manager also assembled a new defence which included new signing Rio Ferdinand, whose deal broke the transfer record in English football and indeed, the world record for a defender.The Red Devils started their quest to regain the Premier League title at home to newly promoted West Bromwich Albion and claimed all three points thanks to super-sub Ole Gunnar Solskjær's late goal. Results didn't flow as Ferguson hoped and as early autumn approached, Manchester United had made their worst start since the inauguration of the Premier League, lying in 10th place. Things didn't get better as losses to Bolton Wanderers and Leeds United were eclipsed by a derby day defeat to Manchester City in November which allowed a four-point gap to open between themselves and leaders Liverpool. Following an empathic win against Newcastle United, the team embarked on a run of wins that included rivals Liverpool, struggling West Ham and champions Arsenal to help their Premier League challenge gather ominous momentum. Although they slumped to defeat on Boxing Day at Middlesbrough, the team were in third place, five points short of table-toppers Arsenal at the turn of the year.
The Middlesbrough loss on 22 December turned out to be their last league defeat of the season, as a series of late home wins against Sunderland and Chelsea in January helped pile the pressure somewhat on runaway leaders Arsenal, who were struggling with a minor goalkeeping crisis. After United drew at Bolton in the late evening kick-off on 22 February, Arsenal had the chance to open a five-point gap at the Premier League summit if they won at Maine Road. A five-star performance ensured this through a rampant display of attacking football that virtually put one hand on the trophy. However the difference in the title race was later whittled down to two after Blackburn completed a sensational double over the reigning champions at home while United recorded a victory over Aston Villa thanks to a David Beckham goal.
April began with a ruthless win at Old Trafford against Liverpool, which helped them reclaim top spot albeit temporarily. However, Kolo Touré's late own goal gifted Aston Villa a point when Arsenal perhaps should have taken all three. By the end of the week, just goal difference separated the top two, favouring the Gunners. A 6–2 rout at Newcastle preceded the game of the season: against Arsenal at Highbury. A 2–2 draw didn't prove to be decisive, but it was advantage Manchester United, who maintained a three-point lead, although the Gunners had a game in hand and a slightly superior goal difference. Despite more European disappointment – this time at the hands of Real Madrid through an impressive performance by Ronaldo – a comeback by Bolton Wanderers dented Arsenal's hopes of retaining the double and installed Manchester United as sole favourites to win the league. They didn't bluff, cruising to a 4–1 home win against Charlton Athletic and clinching their eighth title in eleven seasons after Arsenal lost at home to Leeds a day later.
Manchester United wrapped up their successful league campaign with a 2–1 victory at Everton, David Beckham scored United's leveller in what was his last appearance for the club.
Pre-season and friendlies
Premier League
Manchester United started their attempts to regain the Premier League title with a home match against newly promoted West Bromwich Albion. Although the fans were confident of taking maximum points they had to wait until the 78th minute for Ole Gunnar Solskjær, the late-goal specialist, to give them the lead with his 100th goal for the club. They could not add to their one-goal advantage, despite West Brom having to play with ten men with Derek McInnes being sent off for two bookings, the second for a foul on Nicky Butt in the 64th minute, but held on to begin the season with victory.| Date | Opponents | H/A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance | League position |
| 17 August 2002 | West Bromwich Albion | H | Solskjær 78' | 67,645 | 7th | |
| 23 August 2002 | Chelsea | A | Beckham 26', Giggs 66' | 41,541 | 7th | |
| 31 August 2002 | Sunderland | A | Giggs 7' | 47,586 | 8th | |
| 3 September 2002 | Middlesbrough | H | Van Nistelrooy 28' | 67,464 | 4th | |
| 11 September 2002 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 67,623 | 7th | ||
| 14 September 2002 | Leeds United | A | 39,622 | 10th | ||
| 21 September 2002 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | Van Nistelrooy 62' | 67,611 | 8th | |
| 28 September 2002 | Charlton Athletic | A | Scholes 54', Giggs 82', Van Nistelrooy 90' | 26,630 | 4th | |
| 7 October 2002 | Everton | H | Scholes 86', 90', Van Nistelrooy 90' | 67,629 | 4th | |
| 19 October 2002 | Fulham | A | Solskjær 62' | 18,103 | 4th | |
| 26 October 2002 | Aston Villa | H | Forlán 77' | 67,619 | 4th | |
| 2 November 2002 | Southampton | H | P. Neville 15', Forlán 85' | 67,691 | 3rd | |
| 9 November 2002 | Manchester City | A | Solskjær 7' | 34,649 | 5th | |
| 17 November 2002 | West Ham United | A | Van Nistelrooy 38' | 35,049 | 5th | |
| 23 November 2002 | Newcastle United | H | Scholes 25', Van Nistelrooy 38', 45', 53', Solskjær 55' | 67,625 | 5th | |
| 1 December 2002 | Liverpool | A | Forlán 63', 66' | 44,250 | 4th | |
| 7 December 2002 | Arsenal | H | Verón 20', Scholes 72' | 67,650 | 3rd | |
| 14 December 2002 | West Ham United | H | Solskjær 15', Verón 17', Schemmel 61' | 67,555 | 2nd | |
| 22 December 2002 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 30,475 | 3rd | ||
| 26 December 2002 | Middlesbrough | A | Giggs 60' | 34,673 | 3rd | |
| 28 December 2002 | Birmingham City | H | Forlán 37', Beckham 73' | 67,640 | 3rd | |
| 1 January 2003 | Sunderland | H | Beckham 81', Scholes 90' | 67,609 | 2nd | |
| 11 January 2003 | West Bromwich Albion | A | Van Nistelrooy 8', Scholes 22', Solskjær 55' | 27,129 | 2nd | |
| 18 January 2003 | Chelsea | H | Scholes 39', Forlán 90' | 67,606 | 2nd | |
| 1 February 2003 | Southampton | A | Van Nistelrooy 15', Giggs 22' | 32,085 | 2nd | |
| 4 February 2003 | Birmingham City | A | Van Nistelrooy 56' | 29,475 | 2nd | |
| 9 February 2003 | Manchester City | H | Van Nistelrooy 18' | 67,646 | 2nd | |
| 22 February 2003 | Bolton Wanderers | A | Solskjær 90' | 27,409 | 2nd | |
| 5 March 2003 | Leeds United | H | Radebe 20', Silvestre 79' | 67,135 | 2nd | |
| 15 March 2003 | Aston Villa | A | Beckham 12' | 42,602 | 2nd | |
| 22 March 2003 | Fulham | H | Van Nistelrooy 44', 68', 90' | 67,706 | 2nd | |
| 5 April 2003 | Liverpool | H | Van Nistelrooy 5', 65', Giggs 78', Solskjær 90' | 67,639 | 2nd | |
| 12 April 2003 | Newcastle United | A | Solskjær 32', Scholes 34', 38', 52', Giggs 44', Van Nistelrooy 58' | 52,164 | 1st | |
| 16 April 2003 | Arsenal | A | Van Nistelrooy 24', Giggs 63' | 38,164 | 1st | |
| 19 April 2003 | Blackburn Rovers | H | Van Nistelrooy 20', Scholes 42', 61' | 67,626 | 1st | |
| 27 April 2003 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | Scholes 69', Van Nistelrooy 90' | 36,073 | 1st | |
| 3 May 2003 | Charlton Athletic | H | Beckham 11', Van Nistelrooy 32', 37', 52' | 67,721 | 1st | |
| 11 May 2003 | Everton | A | Beckham 45', Van Nistelrooy 79' | 40,168 | 1st |
FA Cup
| Date | Round | Opponents | H/A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 4 January 2003 | Round 3 | Portsmouth | H | Van Nistelrooy 5', 82', Beckham 16', Scholes 89' | 67,222 | |
| 26 January 2003 | Round 4 | West Ham United | H | Giggs 8', 29', Van Nistelrooy 49', 58', P. Neville 50', Solskjær 69' | 67,181 | |
| 15 February 2003 | Round 5 | Arsenal | H | 67,209 |
League Cup
| Date | Round | Opponents | H/A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 5 November 2002 | Round 3 | Leicester City | H | Beckham 80', Richardson 90' | 47,848 | |
| 3 December 2002 | Round 4 | Burnley | A | Forlán 35', Solskjær 65' | 22,034 | |
| 17 December 2002 | Round 5 | Chelsea | H | Forlán 80' | 57,985 | |
| 7 January 2003 | Semi-final First leg | Blackburn Rovers | H | Scholes 58' | 62,740 | |
| 22 January 2003 | Semi-final Second leg | Blackburn Rovers | A | Scholes 30', 42', Van Nistelrooy 77' | 29,048 | |
| 2 March 2003 | Final | Liverpool | N | 74,500 |
UEFA Champions League
Third qualifying round
| Date | Round | Opponents | H/A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 14 August 2002 | Third qualifying round First leg | Zalaegerszeg | A | 40,000 | ||
| 27 August 2002 | Third qualifying round Second leg | Zalaegerszeg | H | Van Nistelrooy 6', 76', Beckham 15', Scholes 21', Solskjær 84' | 66,814 |
Group stage
| Date | Opponents | H/A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance | Group position |
| 18 September 2002 | Maccabi Haifa | H | Giggs 10', Solskjær 35', Verón 46', Van Nistelrooy 54', Forlán 89' | 63,439 | 2nd | |
| 24 September 2002 | Bayer Leverkusen | A | Van Nistelrooy 31', 44' | 22,500 | 1st | |
| 1 October 2002 | Olympiacos | H | Giggs 19', Verón 26', Anatolakis 66', Solskjær 77' | 66,902 | 1st | |
| 23 October 2002 | Olympiacos | A | Blanc 21', Verón 59', Scholes 84' | 13,220 | 1st | |
| 29 October 2002 | Maccabi Haifa | A | 22,000 | 1st | ||
| 13 November 2002 | Bayer Leverkusen | H | Verón 42', Van Nistelrooy 69' | 66,185 | 1st |
Second group stage
| Date | Opponents | H/A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance | Group position |
| 26 November 2002 | Basel | A | Van Nistelrooy 62', 63', Solskjær 68' | 29,501 | 1st | |
| 11 December 2002 | Deportivo La Coruña | H | Van Nistelrooy 7', 55' | 67,014 | 1st | |
| 19 February 2003 | Juventus | H | Brown 4', Van Nistelrooy 85' | 66,703 | 1st | |
| 25 February 2003 | Juventus | A | Giggs 15', 41', Van Nistelrooy 63' | 59,111 | 1st | |
| 12 March 2003 | Basel | H | G. Neville 53' | 66,870 | 1st | |
| 18 March 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña | A | 25,000 | 1st |
Knockout phase
| Date | Round | Opponents | H/A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 8 April 2003 | Quarter-final First leg | Real Madrid | A | Van Nistelrooy 52' | 75,000 | |
| 23 April 2003 | Quarter-final Second leg | Real Madrid | H | Van Nistelrooy 43', Helguera 52', Beckham 71', 85' | 66,708 |
Squad statistics
Transfers
United's first departure of the 2002–03 season was Nick Culkin, who was released on 7 July. Trinidad and Tobago forward Dwight Yorke left United for Blackburn Rovers on 26 July for £2 million. Culkin and Yorke were United's only summer departures, but they were not United's only departures of the 2002–03 season.United's only arrivals of the 2002–03 season were Rio Ferdinand, who joined from United's fierce rivals Leeds United, and Spanish goalkeeper Ricardo, who signed for just £1.5 million.
On 5 June, Lee Roche was released from United on a free transfer. On 30 June, defender Laurent Blanc announced his retirement from football. Also on 30 June, David May was released.