2002–03 Real Sociedad season

Real Sociedad 2002–03 Raynald Denoueix La Liga 2nd Copa del Rey First round Nihat Kahveci (23) 2001–02 2003–04 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 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 Squad at end of seasonhttp://www.footballsquads.co.uk/spain/2002-2003/laliga/sociedad.htm FootballSquads - Real Sociedad - 2002/03 www.footballsquads.co.uk 1 ESP GK Alberto 2 NOR DF Bjørn Tore Kvarme 3 ESP DF Agustín Aranzábal 4 ESP MF Xabi Alonso 5 ESP DF Zuhaitz Gurrutxaga 6 ARG DF Gabriel Schurrer 7 ESP DF Igor Jauregi 8 TUR MF Tayfun KorkutKorkut was born in Stuttgart, Germany. 9 Serbia and Montenegro FW Darko Kovačević 10 ESP MF Javier de Pedro 11 ESP MF Mikel Aranburu 12 ESP DF José Antonio Pikabea 14 ESP DF Aitor López Rekarte 15 TUR FW Nihat Kahveci 16 ESP FW Joseba Llorente 17 ESP FW Igor Gabilondo 19 RUS MF Dmitri Khokhlov 20 ESP MF José Barkero 21 ESP FW Óscar de Paula 23 ESP DF Sergio Boris 24 RUS MF Valery KarpinKarpin was born in Narva, Estonia. 25 NED GK Sander Westerveld 28 ESP MF Mikel Alonso 29 ESP GK Mikel Saizar 37 ESP GK Pablo Left club during season 26 ESP MF Kristian Alberdi on loan to Real Unión 27 ESP MF Gari Uranga on loan to Eibar Player stats Squad statsPlayer Games playedFull gamesGames startingUsed as subMinutesInjuries CardsSent Off Goals PenaltiesAlberto López Fernández11109000000Agustín Aranzábal3231320287905000José Javier Barkero1105657401000Sergio Boris González25121510141201000Óscar de Paula11001113400000Javier de Pedro297263206702060Igor Gabilondo24281681504010Zuhaitz Gurrutxaga21119101000Igor Jauregi3632360314808110Valery Karpin3630360318605080Dmitri Khokhlov18251360601020Darko Kovačević36213603033161202Bjørn Tore Kvarme2018182166602000Joseba Llorente20021900010Aitor López Rekarte3737370333008000Mikel Alonso901815400010Mikel Aranburu3419277248207020Nihat Kahveci35203503002051230Gabriel Schürrer2321230206203000Tayfun Korkut22661675101020Sander Westerveld3737370333001000Xabi Alonso3323330277118030 Competitions La Liga 2002–03 La Liga League table RSO Matches 1 W 1 September 2002 19:00 CEST Real Sociedad 4–2 Athletic Bilbao Karpin 27Kahveci 32 61Kovačević 75 Gurpegui 29 74 San Sebastián Anoeta 2 W 15 September 2002 18:00 CEST Espanyol 1–3 Real Sociedad Tamudo 81 Kovačević 41 88Aranburu 55 Barcelona Olímpic Lluís Companys 3 D 22 September 2002 20:30 CEST Real Sociedad 3–3 Real Betis Rivas 30 o.g.Kovačević 57 79 Capi 14 26Alfonso 60 San Sebastián Anoeta 4 W 29 September 2002 19:00 CEST Osasuna 2–3 Real Sociedad Puñal 20 pen.Rivero 50 Nihat 12Jauregi 51Khokhlov 83 Pamplona El Sadar 5 W 6 October 2002 18:00 CEST Real Sociedad 2–1 Real Valladolid Nihat 66Karpin 68 Colsa 73 San Sebastián Anoeta 6 D 20 October 2002 18:00 CEST Alavés 2–2 Real Sociedad Astudillo 4Rubén Navarro 86 Nihat 33Karpin 67 Vitoria-Gasteiz Mendizorroza 7 W 27 October 2002 20:30 CET Real Sociedad 2–1 Racing Santander Kovačević 72de Pedro 89 pen. Javi Guerrero 22 San Sebastián Anoeta 8 W 3 November 2002 18:00 CET Villarreal 0–1 Real Sociedad Nihat 35 Vilarreal El Madrigal 9 D 9 November 2002 20:00 CET Real Sociedad 1–1 Deportivo La Coruña Kovačević 27 Luque 40 San Sebastián Anoeta 10 D 17 November 2002 19:00 CET Real Madrid 0–0 Real Sociedad Madrid Santiago Bernabéu 11 D 22 November 2002 21:30 CET Rayo Vallecano 0–0 Real Sociedad Madrid Teresa Rivero 12 W 1 December 2002 19:00 CET Real Sociedad 2–1 Barcelona Kovačević 39 53 Kluivert 33 San Sebastián Anoeta 13 W 7 December 2002 21:30 CET Sevilla 0–1 Real Sociedad Karpin 70 Seville Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán 14 W 15 December 2002 17:00 CET Real Sociedad 2–1 Mallorca de Pedro 51Aranburu 57 Eto'o 47 San Sebastián Anoeta 15 W 22 December 2002 17:00 CET Recreativo Huelva 1–3 Real Sociedad Raúl Molina 39 Nihat 41 56Llorente 90 Huelva Nuevo Colombino 16 D 5 January 2003 17:00 CET Real Sociedad 2–2 Málaga Nihat 7Khokhlov 24 Musampa 20Darío Silva 56 San Sebastián Anoeta 17 D 11 January 2003 21:30 CET Valencia 2–2 Real Sociedad Fábio Aurélio 19Aranzábal 60 o.g. Kovačević 68Nihat 79 Valencia Mestalla 18 W 18 January 2003 20:00 CET Real Sociedad 1–0 Celta de Vigo de Pedro 64 San Sebastián Anoeta 19 W 25 January 2003 21:30 CET Atlético Madrid 1–2 Real Sociedad Luis García 48 Korkut 46Kovačević 72 Madrid Vicente Calderón 20 L 2 February 2003 20:30 CET Athletic Bilbao 3–0 Real Sociedad Etxeberria 18 75Ezquerro 90 Bilbao San Mamés 21 D 9 February 2003 17:00 CET Real Sociedad 0–0 Espanyol San Sebastián Anoeta 22 L 16 February 2003 20:30 CET Real Betis 3–2 Real Sociedad Fernando 11 90 pen.Filipescu 86 Nihat 73 77 Seville Manuel Ruiz de Lopera 23 W 23 February 2003 17:00 CET Real Sociedad 2–0 Osasuna Kovačević 42Aranburu 64 San Sebastián Anoeta 24 L 2 March 2003 17:00 CET Real Valladolid 3–0 Real Sociedad Oliveira 1 8Óscar 21 Valladolid José Zorrilla 25 W 9 March 2003 20:30 CET Real Sociedad 3–1 Alavés Kovačević 16Nihat 39Karpin 43 Rubén Navarro 83 pen. San Sebastián Anoeta 26 W 15 March 2003 20:30 CET Racing Santander 1–2 Real Sociedad Benayoun 4 Nihat 22Karpin 60 Santander El Sardinero 27 D 23 March 2003 17:00 CET Real Sociedad 2–2 Villarreal Kovačević 14 15 pen. Víctor 88Jorge López 90 San Sebastián Anoeta References Category:Real Sociedad seasons Real Sociedad Category:2002 in the Basque Country (autonomous community) Category:2003 in the Basque Country (autonomous community) Category:Long stubs with short prose