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2003–04 Middlesbrough F.C. season

Field	Value
club	Middlesbrough
season	2003–04
manager	Steve McClaren
chairman	Steve Gibson
league	FA Premier League
league result	[11th](2003-04-premier-league)
league topscorer	Juninho, Németh (8)
season topscorer	Juninho (9)
highest attendance	34,738 (vs. Manchester United, Premier League)
Away: 67,346 (vs. Manchester United, Premier League)
lowest attendance	10,435 (vs. Brighton, League Cup)
Away: 8,046 (vs. Wigan Athletic, League Cup)
average attendance	30,977
cup1	FA Cup	cup1 result= [Fourth Round](2003-04-fa-cup)
cup2	League Cup	cup2 result= [Winners](2003-04-football-league-cup)
pattern_la1	_whiteborder	pattern_b1 = _whitethinlines	pattern_ra1 = _whiteborder	pattern_sh1 =	pattern_so1 =
leftarm1	FF0000	body1 = FF0000	rightarm1 = FF0000	shorts1 = FF0000	socks1 = FF0000
pattern_la2	_dkredshoulders	pattern_b2 = _dkredshoulders	pattern_ra2 = _dkredshoulders	pattern_sh2 =	pattern_so2 =
leftarm2	1A2D69	body2 = 1A2D69	rightarm2 = 1A2D69	shorts2 = 1A2D69	socks2 = 1A2D69
prevseason	[2002–03](2002-03-middlesbrough-f-c-season)
nextseason	[2004–05](2004-05-middlesbrough-f-c-season)

Away: 67,346 (vs. Manchester United, Premier League) Away: 8,046 (vs. Wigan Athletic, League Cup) During the 2003–04 season, Middlesbrough participated in the FA Premier League.

Team kit and sponsors

Middlesbrough were sponsored by Dial-a-Phone, the team's kit was produced by Errea. The home shirt consisted of a plain red shirt, red shorts and red socks with white trim. The away strip was mainly navy blue with maroon shoulders, navy shorts and navy socks, with maroon detailing.

Season review

League review

Middlesbrough had an appalling start to their season, losing four of their first five games (their worst start since the 1984–85 season) and taking only one point. This set the foundations for a very patchy season.

Middlesbrough hovered around the relegation spots for the first third of the season. However, they eventually found some form through November and December and went unbeaten for eight games which took them away from the relegation zone.

Middlesbrough's form was again inconsistent after Christmas, but they managed to pick up enough points to finish in a respectable 11th place.

Domestic cup review

The league cup campaign was the highlight of the season for Middlesbrough. It was one that would bring them their first major trophy in their 128-year history.

It started in late September with a home match against Brighton and Hove Albion and Boro low down in the league due to a terrible start. Middlesbrough made hard work of it against lower league opposition, but managed to scrape through with a 94th minute extra-time goal from Malcolm Christie.

The next round saw Boro comfortably beat Wigan Athletic 2–1 away with goals from Maccarone and Mendieta to set up a fourth round home match against Everton.

The match against Everton was a closely contested affair, which ended 0–0 after extra time - penalties were needed to decide the winner. Middlesbrough won the shoot-out 5–4, with Mark Schwarzer saving from Leon Osman and Mendieta converting the winning penalty.

The quarter finals saw Middlesbrough face Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. Spurs led most of the match through a first-minute Darren Anderton goal. It took an 86th-minute equaliser from Michael Ricketts to send the game into extra time. No goals were scored in extra time, meaning Boro had a penalty shoot out for the second successive round. The shoot out went into sudden death, but after Mauricio Taricco's penalty hit the post, Franck Queudrue converted his penalty to win the game.

Boro's semi final was a two legged match against a youthful Arsenal team. The first leg went Middlesbrough's way with them taking a 1–0 lead thanks to a Juninho goal. Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger chose a few more experienced players for the vital second leg, but to no avail: Boro won 2–1 on the night for a 3–1 aggregate win.

The final was on 29 February 2004 against Bolton Wanderers at the Millennium Stadium. The game started in the best way possible for Boro, with goals from Joseph Desire-Job and Bolo Zenden giving them an early 2–0 lead. A mistake from Mark Schwarzer let Kevin Davies get one back, and the score remained 2–1 at half time. Both teams had chances to score in the second half, but the score stayed the same, giving Boro their first ever major trophy.

The FA Cup campaign wasn't as successful. After a comfortable 2–0 win at home to Notts County, Boro were drawn against Arsenal in the fourth round. They lost the match 4–1 sending them out of the competition.

Final league table

Main article: 2003–04 FA Premier League

Squad

Senior squad

Left club during season

Transfers

In

Date	Player	Previous club	Cost
1 July 2003	BRA Doriva	ESP Celta Vigo	url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/4649947.stm	title=Doriva signs new contract at Boro	date=4 July 2005	access-date=30 March 2021	website=BBC Sport}}
4 August 2003	ENG Alan Wright	Unattached	url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/3119047.stm	title=Wright joins Boro	date=4 August 2003	access-date=30 March 2021	website=BBC Sport}}
24 August 2003	ENG Danny Mills	Leeds United	url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/3624577.stm	title=Mills in dark about future	date=14 April 2004	access-date=30 March 2021	website=BBC Sport}}
28 August 2003	ESP Gaizka Mendieta	ITA Lazio	url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/3174187.stm	title=McClaren hails Mendieta	date=22 August 2003	access-date=30 March 2021	website=BBC Sport}}
30 August 2003	NED Boudewijn Zenden	Chelsea	url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/3120274.stm	title=Zenden aims high for Boro	date=18 September 2003	access-date=30 March 2021	website=BBC Sport}}
2 February 2004	BRA Ricardinho	BRA São Paulo	url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/3451971.stm	title=BBC SPORT \| Football \| My Club \| Middlesbrough \| Ricardinho arrives at Boro	website=BBC Sport	date=3 February 2004	access-date=30 March 2021}}

Out

Date	Player	New club	Cost
5 August 2003	ENG Noel Whelan	Millwall	title=Players - Noel Whelan	url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=8435	url-status=live	archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040910172349/http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=8435	archive-date=2004-09-10	access-date=30 March 2021	website=soccerbase.com}}
13 August 2003	WAL Mark Crossley	Fulham	url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/3148179.stm	title=Crossley joins Fulham	date=13 August 2003	access-date=30 March 2021	website=BBC Sport}}
14 November 2003	ARG Carlos Marinelli	Released	url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/3272063.stm	title=Marinelli leaves Boro	date=14 November 2003	access-date=30 March 2021	website=BBC Sport}}
31 October 2003	ENG Alan Wright	Sheffield United	date=31 October 2003	title=October Transfers	url=http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Transfers/0,,10794~478199,00.html	url-status=dead	archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040219162752/http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Transfers/0,,10794~478199,00.html	archive-date=2004-02-19	website=football-league.premiumtv.co.uk	accessdate=30 March 2021}}
30 April 2004	BRA Ricardinho	Released	Free

Premier League results

Note: Results are given with Middlesbrough score listed first. Man of the Match is according to mfc.co.uk.

Game	Date	Venue	Opponent	Result
F–A	Attendance	Boro Goalscorers	Man of the Match
1	16 August 2003	A	Fulham	[2–3](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3140895.stm)	14,546	Marinelli 10', Németh 81'
2	24 August 2003	H	Arsenal	[0–4](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3152281.stm)	29,450
3	26 August 2003	A	Leicester City	[0–0](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3156179.stm)	30,823		Davies
4	30 August 2003	H	Leeds United	[2–3](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3172821.stm)	30,414	Németh 60', Juninho 63'	Mendieta
5	13 September 2003	A	Bolton Wanderers	[0–2](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3194205.stm)	26,419
6	21 September 2003	H	Everton	[1–0](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3084370.stm)	28,113	Job 6'
7	27 September 2003	A	Southampton	[1–0](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3122916.stm)	30,772	Christie 13'
8	5 October 2003	H	Chelsea	[1–2](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3123638.stm)	29,170	Németh 46'
9	18 October 2003	H	Newcastle United	[0–1](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3191292.stm)	34,081
10	26 October 2003	A	Tottenham Hotspur	[0–0](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3206862.stm)	32,643
11	1 November 2003	H	Wolverhampton Wanderers	[2–0](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3207109.stm)	30,305	Mendieta 73', Juninho 83'
12	8 November 2003	A	Aston Villa	[2–0](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3232997.stm)	29,898	Zenden 30', Ricketts 49'(pen)
13	22 November 2003	H	Liverpool	[0–0](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3273233.stm)	34,268
14	29 November 2003	A	Manchester City	[1–0](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3285091.stm)	46,824	Sun Jihai (o.g.)
15	6 December 2003	H	Portsmouth	0–0	28031
16	13 December 2003	H	Charlton Athletic	[0–0](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3249100.stm)	26,721
17	26 December 2003	A	Blackburn Rovers	[2–2](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3316117.stm)	25,452	Juninho 31', 51'
18	28 December 2003	H	Manchester United	[0–1](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3349119.stm)	34,738
19	7 January 2004	H	Fulham	[2–1](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3362525.stm)	27,869	Job 15', Németh 67'
20	10 January 2004	A	Arsenal	[1–4](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3363041.stm)	38,117	Maccarone 89' (pen)
21	20 January 2004	H	Leicester City	[3–3](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3385509.stm)	27,125	Juninho 8', Maccarone 90', Curtis 90' (o.g.)
22	31 January 2004	A	Leeds United	[3–0](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3417877.stm)	35,970	Zenden 53', Job 77', Ricketts 89'(pen)
23	7 February 2004	H	Blackburn Rovers	[0–1](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3447467.stm)	28,307
24	11 February 2004	A	Manchester United	[3–2](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3456297.stm)	67,346	Juninho 34', 38', Job 80'
25	21 February 2004	A	Newcastle United	[1–2](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3496747.stm)	52,156	Zenden 33'
26	3 March 2004	A	Birmingham City	[1–3](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3495494.stm)	29,369	Németh 75'
27	9 March 2004	H	Tottenham Hotspur	[1–0](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3536257.stm)	31,789	Németh 73'
28	13 March 2004	A	Charlton Athletic	[0–1](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3536377.stm)	26,270
29	20 March 2004	H	Birmingham City	[5–3](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3507786.stm)	30,244	Mendieta 5', Maccarone 21', 45', Southgate 30', Németh 90'
30	27 March 2004	A	Everton	[1–1](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3552993.stm)	38,210	Job 83'
31	3 April 2004	H	Bolton Wanderers	[2–0](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3571937.stm)	30,107	Nolan 8' (o.g.), Greening 51'
32	10 April 2004	A	Chelsea	[0–0](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3574341.stm)	40,873
33	12 April 2004	H	Southampton	[3–1](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3592819.stm)	30,768	Juninho 23', Németh 32', Maccarone 49'
34	17 April 2004	A	Wolverhampton Wanderers	[0–2](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3615839.stm)	27,975
35	24 April 2004	H	Aston Villa	[1–2](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3628567.stm)	31,322	Job 41'
36	2 May 2004	A	Liverpool	[0–2](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3655255.stm)	42,031
37	8 May 2004	H	Manchester City	[2–1](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3676189.stm)	34,734	Maccarone 8', Németh 32'
38	15 May 2004	A	Portsmouth	[1–5](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3696223.stm)	20,134	Zenden 27'

Cup results

[[Football League Cup|League Cup]]

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
2	24 September 2003	Brighton	Home	[1-0](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/3125084.stm) (a.e.t.)	10,435	Christie
3	29 October 2003	Wigan	Away	[2-1](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/3204855.stm)	8,046	Maccarone, Mendieta
4	3 December 2003	Everton	Home	[0-0](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/3247018.stm) (5–4 pens)	18,568
5	17 December 2003	Tottenham	Away	[1-1](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/3314311.stm) (5–4 pens)	25,307	Ricketts
SF Leg 1	20 January 2004	Arsenal	Away	[1-0](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/3403993.stm)	31,070	Juninho
SF Leg 2	3 February 2004	Arsenal	Home	[2-1](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/3451565.stm) (3–1 agg.)	28,046	Zenden, Reyes og
Final	29 February 2004	Bolton	Millennium Stadium	[2-1](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/3507795.stm)	72,634	Job, Zenden (pen)

[[FA Cup]]

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
3	3 January 2004	Notts County	Home	[2-0](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/3349193.stm)	15,061	Richardson og, Zenden
4	24 January 2004	Arsenal	Away	[1-4](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/3403683.stm)	37,256	Job

Player statistics

Goalscorers

Goalscoring statistics for 2003-04.

Name	League	FA Cup	League Cup	Total
Brazil Juninho	8	0	1	9
Slovakia Németh	8	0	0	8
Cameroon Job	6	1	1	8
Netherlands Zenden	5	1	2	8
Italy Maccarone	6	0	1	7
Spain Mendieta	2	0	1	3
England Ricketts	2	0	1	3
England Christie	1	0	1	2
Argentina Marinelli	1	0	0	1
England Greening	1	0	0	1
England Southgate	1	0	0	1
Own Goals	3	1	1	5

Appearances / Discipline

Appearance and disciplinary records for 2003-04 league and cup matches.

Name	Appearances	Yellow cards	Red cards
Australia Schwarzer	44	0	0
Australia Jones	2	0	0
England Nash	1	0	0
England Parnaby	9+7	2	0
France Queudrue	40	7	0
England Ehiogu	19	3	0
England Riggott	19+5	3	0
England Southgate	34	1	0
England Mills	37	10	0
England Wright	2	0	0
England Davies	8+2	0	0
Scotland Stockdale	0+2	0	0
England Cooper	19+2	3	0
Spain Mendieta	37+1	3	0
Netherlands Boateng	43	8	1
Brazil Juninho	31+7	3	0
England Downing	10+14	0	0
England Morrison	0+2	0	0
England Greening	21+8	5	0
Brazil Doriva	23+3	6	0
Argentina Marinelli	1	0	0
Netherlands Zenden	38+1	5	1
Italy Maccarone	18+12	2	0
England Ricketts	12+18	4	0
Slovakia Németh	20+18	2	0
Cameroon Job	22+7	1	0

Notes

References and notes

References

"1980-2006- Kits".
"ESPNsoccernet: Middlesbrough Squad Statistics".
"Middlesbrough FC 2004-05".
(4 July 2005). "Doriva signs new contract at Boro".
(4 August 2003). "Wright joins Boro".
(14 April 2004). "Mills in dark about future".
(22 August 2003). "McClaren hails Mendieta".
(18 September 2003). "Zenden aims high for Boro".
(3 February 2004). "BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Middlesbrough | Ricardinho arrives at Boro".
"Players - Noel Whelan".
(13 August 2003). "Crossley joins Fulham".
(14 November 2003). "Marinelli leaves Boro".
(31 October 2003). "October Transfers".
"BORO 2004-05 Premiership".

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