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

Season summary

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 Villareal 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

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

Left club during season

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

Player stats

Competitions

La Liga

League table

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

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
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
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
15 December 2002 14 Real Sociedad 2–1 Mallorca San Sebastián
17:00 CET de Pedro 51'
Aranburu 57'		 Eto'o 47' Stadium: Anoeta
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

References

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


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