2002–03 Real Sociedad season

Real Sociedad
2002–03 season
ManagerFrance Raynald Denoueix
La Liga2nd
Copa del ReyFirst round
Top goalscorerNihat Kahveci (23)

Season summary

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During the 2002–03 season, Real Sociedad were involved in a title race for the first time in decades.

After a series of impressive performances, stretching from September to February the club reached the top of the table. During February and March their league form faltered, and the title challenge looked over. However the club managed to re-establish itself back at the top in April. An emphatic 4-2 defeat of Real Madrid’s galacticos at Anoeta in April was the team’s signature performance.

The turning point came in early June. Failing to beat Valencia and losing away to Celta de Vigo- who were after a UCL qualification spot- meant that the Guipuscoan club missed on the league trophy. On the last match day a home victory against Atlético Madrid was sterile, as Real Madrid defeated Athletic Bilbao and thus became league champions. A home draw against Villarreal in March is also blamed for this outcome.

The club’s fanbase and the entire province paid tribute to the squad regardless of their failure to win the trophy.

Squad

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Squad at end of season[1]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   ESP Alberto
2 DF   NOR Bjørn Tore Kvarme
3 DF   ESP Agustín Aranzábal
4 MF   ESP Xabi Alonso
5 DF   ESP Zuhaitz Gurrutxaga
6 DF   ARG Gabriel Schurrer
7 DF   ESP Igor Jauregi
8 MF   TUR Tayfun Korkut[2]
9 FW   SCG Darko Kovačević
10 MF   ESP Javier de Pedro
11 MF   ESP Mikel Aranburu
12 DF   ESP José Antonio Pikabea
14 DF   ESP Aitor López Rekarte
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 FW   TUR Nihat Kahveci
16 FW   ESP Joseba Llorente
17 FW   ESP Igor Gabilondo
19 MF   RUS Dmitri Khokhlov
20 MF   ESP José Barkero
21 FW   ESP Óscar de Paula
23 DF   ESP Sergio Boris
24 MF   RUS Valery Karpin[3]
25 GK   NED Sander Westerveld
28 MF   ESP Mikel Alonso
29 GK   ESP Mikel Saizar
37 GK   ESP Pablo

Left club during season

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
26 MF   ESP Kristian Alberdi (on loan to Real Unión)
No. Pos. Nation Player
27 MF   ESP Gari Uranga (on loan to Eibar)

Player stats

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Competitions

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La Liga

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League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Real Madrid (C) 38 22 12 4 86 42 +44 78 Qualification for the Champions League group stage
2 Real Sociedad 38 22 10 6 71 45 +26 76
3 Deportivo La Coruña 38 22 6 10 67 47 +20 72 Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round
4 Celta Vigo 38 17 10 11 45 36 +9 61
5 Valencia 38 17 9 12 56 35 +21 60 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
Source: LFP
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd head-to-head points; 3rd head-to-head goal difference; 4th head-to-head away goals scored; 5th goal difference; 6th number of goals scored; 7th Fair-play points
(C) Champions

Matches

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1 September 2002 1 Real Sociedad 4–2 Athletic Bilbao San Sebastian
19:00 CEST Karpin   27'
Kahveci   32', 61'
Kovačević   75'
Gurpegui   29', 74' Stadium: Anoeta
15 September 2002 2 Espanyol 1–3 Real Sociedad Barcelona
18:00 CEST Tamudo   81' Kovačević   41', 88'
Aranburu   55'
Stadium: Olímpic Lluís Companys
22 September 2002 3 Real Sociedad 3–3 Real Betis San Sebastian
20:30 CEST Rivas   30' (o.g.)
Kovačević   57', 79'
Capi   14', 26'
Alfonso   60'
Stadium: Anoeta
29 September 2002 4 Osasuna 2–3 Real Sociedad Pamplona
19:00 CEST Puñal   20' (pen.)
Rivero   50'
Nihat   12'
Jauregi   51'
Khokhlov   83'
Stadium: El Sadar
6 October 2002 5 Real Sociedad 2–1 Real Valladolid San Sebastian
18:00 CEST Nihat   66'
Karpin   68'
Colsa   73' Stadium: Anoeta
20 October 2002 6 Alavés 2–2 Real Sociedad Vitoria-Gasteiz
18:00 CEST Astudillo   4'
Rubén Navarro   86'
Nihat   33'
Karpin   67'
Stadium: Mendizorroza
3 November 2002 8 Villarreal 0–1 Real Sociedad Vilarreal
18:00 CET Nihat   35' Stadium: El Madrigal
1 December 2002 12 Real Sociedad 2–1 Barcelona San Sebastián
19:00 CET Kovačević   39', 53' Kluivert   33' Stadium: Anoeta
7 December 2002 13 Sevilla 0–1 Real Sociedad Seville
21:30 CET Karpin   70' Stadium: Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán
15 December 2002 14 Real Sociedad 2–1 Mallorca San Sebastián
17:00 CET de Pedro   51'
Aranburu   57'
Eto'o   47' Stadium: Anoeta
22 December 2002 15 Recreativo Huelva 1–3 Real Sociedad Huelva
17:00 CET Raúl Molina   39' Nihat   41', 56'
Llorente   90'
Stadium: Nuevo Colombino
5 January 2003 16 Real Sociedad 2–2 Málaga San Sebastián
17:00 CET Nihat   7'
Khokhlov   24'
Musampa   20'
Darío Silva   56'
Stadium: Anoeta
11 January 2003 17 Valencia 2–2 Real Sociedad Valencia
21:30 CET Fábio Aurélio   19'
Aranzábal   60' (o.g.)
Kovačević   68'
Nihat   79'
Stadium: Mestalla
2 February 2003 20 Athletic Bilbao 3–0 Real Sociedad Bilbao
20:30 CET Etxeberria   18', 75'
Ezquerro   90'
Stadium: San Mamés
9 February 2003 21 Real Sociedad 0–0 Espanyol San Sebastián
17:00 CET Stadium: Anoeta
16 February 2003 22 Real Betis 3–2 Real Sociedad Seville
20:30 CET Fernando   11', 90' (pen.)
Filipescu   86'
Nihat   73', 77' Stadium: Manuel Ruiz de Lopera
23 February 2003 23 Real Sociedad 2–0 Osasuna San Sebastián
17:00 CET Kovačević   42'
Aranburu   64'
Stadium: Anoeta
9 March 2003 25 Real Sociedad 3–1 Alavés San Sebastián
20:30 CET Kovačević   16'
Nihat   39'
Karpin   43'
Rubén Navarro   83' (pen.) Stadium: Anoeta
23 March 2003 27 Real Sociedad 2–2 Villarreal San Sebastián
17:00 CET Kovačević   14', 15' (pen.) Víctor   88'
Jorge López   90'
Stadium: Anoeta

References

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  1. ^ "FootballSquads - Real Sociedad - 2002/03". www.footballsquads.co.uk.
  2. ^ Korkut was born in Stuttgart, Germany.
  3. ^ Karpin was born in Narva, Estonia.