Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

2002–03 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Manager
  
Graeme Souness

FA Cup
  
Fourth round

UEFA Cup
  
Second round

Premier League
  
6th

League Cup
  
Semi-finals

Top goalscorer
  
League: Damien Duff (9) All: Dwight Yorke (13)

During the 2002–03 English football season, Blackburn Rovers competed in the FA Premier League.

Contents

Season summary

After a season of consolidation in the Premiership the previous season (capped with victory in the League Cup), Blackburn Rovers enjoyed their best season since winning the title in 1995, finishing in sixth place and qualifying for the UEFA Cup for the second year in a row. While their UEFA Cup campaign was not especially impressive (only beating CSKA Sofia on away goals before being knocked out by eventual runners-up Celtic), their continued progress under Graeme Souness gave the fans much hope for the following season. The star man for Blackburn this season was American goalkeeper Brad Friedel, who was named as the goalkeeper in the PFA Team of the Year.

First-team squad

Squad at end of season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Reserve squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Starting 11

Considering starts in all competitions
  • GK: #1, Brad Friedel, 47
  • RB: #2, Lucas Neill, 45
  • CB: #14, Nils-Eric Johansson, 27 (#20, David Thompson, has 32 starts)
  • CB: #21, Martin Taylor, 38
  • LB: #6, Craig Short, 29
  • RM: #7, Garry Flitcroft, 39
  • CM: #8, David Dunn, 33
  • CM: #3, Tugay Kerimoğlu, 42
  • LM: #11, Damien Duff, 31
  • CF: #19, Dwight Yorke, 35
  • CF: #9, Andy Cole, 40

    • In

  • Andy Todd - Charlton Athletic, 22 May, £750,000 (rising to £1,000,000 depending on appearances)
  • Sebastian Pelzer - 1. FC Kaiserslautern II, 25 June, undisclosed
  • Dwight Yorke - Manchester United, 26 July, £2,000,000 (rising to £2,600,000 depending on appearances and team performance)
  • David Thompson - Coventry City, 29 August, £1,500,000 (rising to £2,500,000 depending on player and team performances)
  • Hakan Şükür - unattached (last played for Parma), 4 December, free
  • Vratislav Greško - Parma, 11 February, four-month loan

    • Out

  • Mark Hughes - released, 13 May
  • Simon Grayson - Blackpool, 19 July, free
  • Hakan Ünsal - Galatasaray, 27 August, £650,000
  • Matt Jansen - Coventry City, 18 February, four-month loan
  • Stig Inge Bjørnebye - retired, 11 March
  • Alan Miller - retired, 7 April
  • James Thomas - released

    • Premier League

  • Damien Duff 10
  • Dwight Yorke 8
  • David Dunn 8
  • Andy Cole 7
  • David Thompson 4

    • References

    2002–03 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA