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2002–03 Aston Villa F.C. season

English football club season


English football club season

FieldValue
clubAston Villa
season2002–03
managerGraham Taylor
chairmanDoug Ellis
leaguePremier League
league result[16th](2002-03-fa-premier-league)
cup1FA Cup
cup1 result[Third round](2002-03-fa-cup-third-round-proper)
cup2League Cup
cup2 result[Quarter-finals](2002-03-football-league-cup-quarter-finals)
cup3UEFA Intertoto Cup
cup3 result[Semi-finals](2002-uefa-intertoto-cup-semi-finals)
league topscorerDion Dublin (10)
season topscorerDion Dublin (14)
pattern_la1pattern_b1=_vneckpattern_ra1=
leftarm188A7E0body1=970045rightarm1=88A7E0shorts1=FFFFFFsocks1=88A7E0
pattern_la2pattern_b2=_collarpattern_ra2=
leftarm2FFFFFFbody2=FFFFFFrightarm2=FFFFFFshorts2=88A7E0socks2=FFFFFF
prevseason[2001–02](2001-02-aston-villa-f-c-season)
nextseason[2003–04](2003-04-aston-villa-f-c-season)

Main article: History of Aston Villa F.C. (1961–present)

The 2002–03 English football season was Aston Villa's 11th season in the Premier League, and their 15th consecutive season in the top division of English football.

Fans had hoped that the return of successful former manager Graham Taylor would spark a serious challenge for honours once more, but the actual result was Villa's worst Premier League campaign in eight years, with the club in serious danger of relegation throughout the season. Survival was only achieved in the penultimate game of the season with a victory over already-doomed Sunderland; Taylor was soon on his way out of the club for good.

There were debuts for Ulises de la Cruz (89), Ronny Johnsen (49), Marcus Allbäck (35), Mark Kinsella (21), Øyvind Leonhardsen (19), Stefan Postma (13), Joey Guðjónsson (11), and Rob Edwards (8).

A season low was the 3–0 defeat by local rivals Birmingham City at St Andrews. A first-half goal from Clinton Morrison saw Birmingham in control at half time, before a comedy of errors saw a throw-in by Olof Mellberg roll under the foot of Villa goalkeeper Peter Enckelman and into the net to gift Blues a 2–0 lead. Geoff Horsfield added a third later in the game thanks to bad defending from Alpay Özalan. This game was followed by the visit to Villa Park. The game kicked into life when Villa striker Dion Dublin was sent off in the 51st minute for headbutting Robbie Savage. In the 74th minute, Australian Stan Lazaridis scored his first goal of the season, and three minutes later, a poor header back by Jlloyd Samuel allowed Horsfield to run onto the ball, beat Enckelman and score from close range. The game ended with another sending off, as Villa's Joey Guðjónsson lunged at Upson with a two-footed tackle.

Kit

Kit SupplierSponsor
DiadoraRover / MG*

*Rover sponsored the home shirts, MG sponsored the away

Transfers

Transferred in

DatePosPlayerFromFee**£5,500,000**
14 May 2002GKStefan PostmaNED De Graafschap£1,500,000
18 May 2002CFMarcus AllbäckNED Heerenveen£2,000,000
8 July 2002CFMichael BouldingGrimsby TownFree transfer
26 July 2002RBUlises de la CruzSCO Hibernian£1,000,000
23 August 2002CMMark KinsellaCharlton Athletic£1,000,000
29 August 2002CBNOR Ronny JohnsenManchester UnitedFree transfer
30 August 2002AMØyvind LeonhardsenTottenham HotspurFree transfer

Loaned in

DatePosPlayerFromLoan End
20 January 2003CMJoey GuðjónssonReal Betis31 May 2003

Transferred out

DatePosPlayerToFee**£5,000,000**
1 July 2002GKDEN Peter SchmeichelManchester CityFree transfer
5 August 2002DMNED George BoatengMiddlesbrough£5,000,000
6 August 2002AMPaul MersonPortsmouthFree transfer
20 December 2002RMSteve StonePortsmouthFree transfer
10 January 2003CFMichael BouldingGrimsby TownFree transfer

Loaned out

DatePosPlayerToLoan End
26 July 2002CMNIR Gavin MelaughRochdale31 May 2003
9 August 2002GKWAL Boaz MyhillBristol City5 November 2002
27 September 2002CFMichael BouldingSheffield United1 November 2002
21 November 2002GKWAL Boaz MyhillBradford City1 January 2003
29 November 2002CMIRL John McGrathDagenham & Redbridge31 May 2003
10 January 2003CFMichael BouldingGrimsby Town12 February 2003

Overall transfer activity

Expenditure

£5,500,000

Income

£5,000,000

Balance

£500,000

Squad

First Team

#NamePositionNationalityPlace of birthDate of birth (Age)Signed fromDate signedFeeAppsGlsGoalkeepersDefendersMidfieldersForwards
1Peter EnckelmanGKFINTurkuFIN TPS1 February 1999£200,000280
13Stefan PostmaGKNEDUtrechtNED De Graafschap14 May 2002£1,500,000--
37Boaz MyhillGKWALUSA Modesto, CAAcademy1 July 200100
39Wayne HendersonGKIRLDublinAcademy1 July 200100
2Mark DelaneyRBWALHaverfordwestWAL Cardiff City9 March 1999£250,000981
3Alan WrightLBENGAshton-under-LyneBlackburn Rovers10 March 1995£1,000,0003185
4Olof MellbergCBSWEGullspångESP Racing Santander19 July 2001£5,000,000360
5Alpay ÖzalanCBTURİzmirTUR Fenerbahçe28 July 2000£5,600,000600
11Steve StauntonLBIRLDundalkLiverpool6 December 2000Free transfer31917
15Ulises de la CruzRBECUPiquiuchoSCO Hibernian26 July 2002£1,000,000--
21Jlloyd SamuelLBTRISan FernandoAcademy1 January 1999430
24Liam RidgewellCBENGBexleyheathAcademy1 July 2002--
27Ronny JohnsenCBNORSandefjordManchester United29 August 2002Free transfer--
30Rob EdwardsLBWALENG TelfordAcademy1 July 2002--
6George BoatengCMNEDGHA NkawkawCoventry City20 July 1999£4,500,0001345
6*Gareth BarryLMENGHastingsAcademy1 January 19981494
7Ian TaylorCMENGBirminghamSheffield Wednesday21 December 1994£1,000,00027340
10Paul Merson *(c)*AMENGHarlesdenMiddlesbrough8 September 1998£6,750,00014419
12Thomas HitzlspergerLMGERMunichGER Bayern Munich5 August 2000Free transfer131
17Lee HendrieRMENGSolihullAcademy1 July 199518520
18Steve StoneRMENGGatesheadNottingham Forest11 March 1999£5,500,0001207
20Mustapha HadjiLMMARIfrane Atlas-SaghirCoventry City7 July 2001£4,500,000323
22Hassan KachloulAMMARAgadirSouthampton1 July 2001312
26Mark KinsellaCMIRLDublinCharlton Athletic23 August 2002£1,000,000--
28Øyvind LeonhardsenAMNORKristiansundTottenham Hotspur30 August 2002Free transfer--
29Peter WhittinghamRMENGNuneatonAcademy1 July 2002--
31Stephen CookeCMENGWalsallAcademy1 July 200010
33Joey GuðjónssonCMISLAkranesESP Real Betis20 January 2003Loan--
38John McGrathCMIRLLimerickAcademy1 July 199930
40Keith FaheyLMIRLDublinAcademy1 July 2002--
8Juan Pablo ÁngelCFCOLMedellínARG River Plate13 January 2001£9,500,0004517
9Dion DublinCFENGLeicesterCoventry City5 November 1998£5,750,00012741
10*Darius VassellCFENGBirminghamAcademy1 January 199810221
14Marcus AllbäckCFSWEGothenburgNED Heerenveen18 May 2002£2,000,000--
16Peter CrouchCFENGMacclesfieldPortsmouth27 March 2002£5,000,00072
19Boško BalabanCFCRORijekaCRO Dinamo Zagreb24 October 2001£5,800,000110
23Michael BouldingCFENGSheffieldGrimsby Town8 July 2002Free transfer--
25Stefan MooreCFENGBirminghamAcademy1 July 200100
32Luke MooreCFENGBirminghamAcademy1 January 2003--
42Peter HynesCFIRLDublinAcademy1 July 200100

*squad number was re-used following a players departure. Note: Stats and ages are correct as of July 1, 2002.

Players

First-team squad

:Squad at end of season

Left club during season

Reserve squad

:The following players made most of their appearances for the reserves this season, but may have also appeared for the reserves or the U-17s, or may have appeared for the first team in a friendly.

U-19 squad

:The following players made most of their appearances for the U-19s this season, but may have also appeared for the reserves or the U-17s.

U-17 squad

:The following players made most of their appearances for the U-17s this season, but may have also appeared for the reserves or the U-19s.

Other players

:The following players did not play for any Aston Villa team this season.

Statistics

Appearances and goals

:As of end of season |- ! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Goalkeepers |- ! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Defenders |- ! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Midfielders |- ! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Forwards |- ! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Players transferred out during the season

Starting 11

Results

Pre-season

DateOpponentsHome/
AwayResult
F – AScorersCompetition
20 July 2002FC Zurich SWIA[0 – 2](http://www.sportinglife.com/football/premiership/astonvilla/reports/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/02/07/21/SOCCER_Villa.html&TEAMHD=astonvilla&DIV=prem&TEAM=ASTON--VILLA&RH=Aston--Villa&PREV_SEASON=2001)Intertoto Cup
27 July 2002FC Zurich SWIH[3 – 0](https://www.xtratime.org/forum/archive/index.php/t-81806.html)Boulding (33), Allbäck (52), Staunton (77)Intertoto Cup
August 2002Lille FRAA[1 – 1](http://www.sportinglife.com/football/premiership/astonvilla/reports/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/02/07/31/SOCCER_Villa.html&TEAMHD=astonvilla&DIV=prem&TEAM=ASTON--VILLA&RH=Aston--Villa&PREV_SEASON=2001)Taylor (83)Intertoto Cup
August 2002Lille FRAH[0 – 2](http://www.sportinglife.com/football/premiership/astonvilla/reports/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/02/08/07/SOCCER_Villa.html&TEAMHD=astonvilla&DIV=prem&TEAM=ASTON--VILLA&RH=Aston--Villa&PREV_SEASON=2001)Intertoto Cup

FA Premier League

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
18 August 2002LiverpoolH0–141,183
24 August 2002Tottenham HotspurA0–135,384
28 August 2002Manchester CityH1–033,494Vassell 64'
1 September 2002Bolton WanderersA0–122,113
11 September 2002Charlton AthleticH2–026,483de la Cruz 70', S Moore 83'
16 September 2002Birmingham CityA0–329,505
22 September 2002EvertonH3–230,023Hendrie 7', 48', Dublin 85'
28 September 2002SunderlandA0–140,492
6 October 2002Leeds UnitedH0–033,505
21 October 2002SouthamptonH0–125,817
26 October 2002Manchester UnitedA1–167,619Mellberg 35'
3 November 2002Blackburn RoversA0–023,004
9 November 2002FulhamH3–129,563Ángel 20', Allbäck 66', Leonhardsen 83'
16 November 2002West Bromwich AlbionA0–027,091
23 November 2002West Ham UnitedH4–133,279Hendrie 29', Leonhardsen 59', Dublin 72', Vassell 80'
30 November 2002ArsenalA1–338,090Hitzlsperger 64'
7 December 2002Newcastle UnitedH0–133,446
14 December 2002West Bromwich AlbionH2–140,391Vassell 16', Hitzlsperger 90'
21 December 2002ChelseaA0–238,284
26 December 2002Manchester CityA1–333,991Dublin 41'
28 December 2002MiddlesbroughH1–033,637Dublin 11'
1 January 2003Bolton WanderersH2–031,838Dublin 8', Vassell 80'
11 January 2003LiverpoolA1–143,210Dublin (pen) 49'
18 January 2003Tottenham HotspurH0–138,576
28 January 2003MiddlesbroughA5–227,546Vassell 24', 81', Guðjónsson 31', Barry 47', Dublin 90'
2 February 2003Blackburn RoversH3–029,171Dublin 2', 40', Barry 81'
8 February 2003FulhamA1–217,092Barry 3'
22 February 2003Charlton AthleticA0–326,257
3 March 2003Birmingham CityH0–242,602
15 March 2003Manchester UnitedH0–142,602
22 March 2003SouthamptonA2–231,888Hendrie 30', Vassell 36'
5 April 2003ArsenalH1–142,602K Touré (own goal) 71'
12 April 2003West Ham UnitedA2–235,029Vassell (pen) 36', Leonhardsen 52'
19 April 2003ChelseaH2–139,358Allbäck 11', 78'
21 April 2003Newcastle UnitedA1–152,015Dublin 69'
26 April 2003EvertonA1–240,167Allbäck 49'
3 May 2003SunderlandH1–036,963Allbäck 80'
11 May 2003Leeds UnitedA1–340,205Guðjónsson 40

Final standings

FA Cup

DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultScorersAttendance
4 January 2003Round 3Blackburn RoversH[1 – 4](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/2607183.stm)Angel 41'23,884

League Cup

DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultScorersAttendance
2 October 2002Round 2Luton TownH[3 – 0](http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=372392)De La Cruz 9', Dublin (2) 35', 48'20,833
6 November 2002Round 3Oxford UnitedA[3 – 0](http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=375611)Taylor 74', Barry 77', Dublin 86'12,177
4 December 2002Round 4Preston North EndH[5 – 0](http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=378652)Vassell 44', 55', Dublin 80', Ángel 84', Hitzlsperger 87'23,042
18 December 2002Round 5LiverpoolH[3 – 4](http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=380018)Vassell 23' (pen), Hitzlsperger 72', Henchoz 88 (o.g.)38,530

Transfers

In

#PosPlayerFromFeeDate
33MFISL Joey GuðjónssonESP Real BetisLoanJanuary 2003
14FWSWE Marcus AllbäckNED SC Heerenveen£2,000,000July 2002
27DFNOR Ronny JohnsenENG Manchester United F.C.FreeJuly 2002
15DFCOL Ulises de la CruzSCO Hibernian F.C.£1,000,000July 2002
26MFIRE Mark KinsellaENG Charlton Athletic F.C.£1,000,000July 2002
28MFNOR Øyvind LeonhardsenENG Tottenham Hotspur F.C.FreeJuly 2002
13GKNED Stefan PostmaNED De Graafschap£1,500,000July 2002
23FWENG Michael BouldingENG Grimsby Town F.C.FreeJuly 2002

Out

#PosPlayerToFeeDate
10MFENG Paul MersonENG PortsmouthFreeJune 2002
6MFNED George BoatengENG Middlesbrough£5,000,000June 2002
1GKDEN Peter SchmeichelENG Manchester CityFreeJune 2002
19FWCRO Boško BalabanCRO Dinamo ZagrebLoanJune 2002
43DFENG Liam RidgewellENG BournemouthLoanAugust 2002
24MFIRE John McGrathENG Dagenham & RedbridgeLoanNovember 2002
N/AMFENG Jay SmithENG Southend UnitedFreeNovember 2002
18MFENG Steve StoneENG PortsmouthFreeDecember 2002
23FWENG Michael BouldingENG Grimsby TownFreeJanuary 2003
7MFENG Ian TaylorENG Derby CountyReleasedAugust 2003

References

Notes

References

  1. "Aston Villa". [[Soccerbase]].
  2. "FootballSquads – Aston Villa – 2002/03".
  3. "Aston Villa Player Database".
  4. "All Aston Villa players: 2003".
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