2002–03 Real Sociedad season

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 at end of season{{Cite web|url=http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/spain/2002-2003/laliga/sociedad.htm|title=FootballSquads - Real Sociedad - 2002/03|website=www.footballsquads.co.uk}}

{{Fs start}}

{{Fs player|no=1|nat=ESP|pos=GK|name=Alberto}}

{{Fs player|no=2|nat=NOR|pos=DF|name=Bjørn Tore Kvarme}}

{{Fs player|no=3|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=Agustín Aranzábal}}

{{Fs player|no=4|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=Xabi Alonso}}

{{Fs player|no=5|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=Zuhaitz Gurrutxaga}}

{{Fs player|no=6|nat=ARG|pos=DF|name=Gabriel Schurrer}}

{{Fs player|no=7|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=Igor Jauregi}}

{{Fs player|no=8|nat=TUR|pos=MF|name=Tayfun KorkutKorkut was born in Stuttgart, Germany.}}

{{Fs player|no=9|nat=Serbia and Montenegro|pos=FW|name=Darko Kovačević}}

{{Fs player|no=10|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=Javier de Pedro}}

{{Fs player|no=11|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=Mikel Aranburu}}

{{Fs player|no=12|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=José Antonio Pikabea}}

{{Fs player|no=14|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=Aitor López Rekarte}}

{{Fs mid}}

{{Fs player|no=15|nat=TUR|pos=FW|name=Nihat Kahveci}}

{{Fs player|no=16|nat=ESP|pos=FW|name=Joseba Llorente}}

{{Fs player|no=17|nat=ESP|pos=FW|name=Igor Gabilondo}}

{{Fs player|no=19|nat=RUS|pos=MF|name=Dmitri Khokhlov}}

{{Fs player|no=20|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=José Barkero}}

{{Fs player|no=21|nat=ESP|pos=FW|name=Óscar de Paula}}

{{Fs player|no=23|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=Sergio Boris}}

{{Fs player|no=24|nat=RUS|pos=MF|name=Valery KarpinKarpin was born in Narva, Estonia.}}

{{Fs player|no=25|nat=NED|pos=GK|name=Sander Westerveld}}

{{Fs player|no=28|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=Mikel Alonso}}

{{Fs player|no=29|nat=ESP|pos=GK|name=Mikel Saizar}}

{{Fs player|no=37|nat=ESP|pos=GK|name=Pablo}}

{{Fs end}}

{{Fs start}}

{{Fs player|no=26|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=Kristian Alberdi|other=on loan to Real Unión}}

{{Fs mid}}

{{Fs player|no=27|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=Gari Uranga|other=on loan to Eibar}}

{{Fs end}}

{{main|2002–03 La Liga}}

{{:2002–03 La Liga|showteam=RSO}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=1

|result=W

|date=1 September 2002

|time=19:00 CEST

|team1=Real Sociedad

|score=4–2

|report=

|team2=Athletic Bilbao

|goals1=Karpin {{goal|27}}
Kahveci {{goal|32||61}}
Kovačević {{goal|75}}

|goals2=Gurpegui {{goal|29||74}}

|location=San Sebastian

|stadium=Anoeta

|attendance=

|referee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=2

|result=W

|date=15 September 2002

|time=18:00 CEST

|team1=Espanyol

|score=1–3

|report=

|team2=Real Sociedad

|goals1=Tamudo {{goal|81}}

|goals2=Kovačević {{goal|41||88}}
Aranburu {{goal|55}}

|location=Barcelona

|stadium=Olímpic Lluís Companys

|attendance=

|referee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=3

|result=D

|date=22 September 2002

|time=20:30 CEST

|team1=Real Sociedad

|score=3–3

|report=

|team2=Real Betis

|goals1=Rivas {{goal|30|o.g.}}
Kovačević {{goal|57||79}}

|goals2=Capi {{goal|14||26}}
Alfonso {{goal|60}}

|location=San Sebastian

|stadium=Anoeta

|attendance=

|referee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=4

|result=W

|date=29 September 2002

|time=19:00 CEST

|team1=Osasuna

|score=2–3

|report=

|team2=Real Sociedad

|goals1=Puñal {{goal|20|pen.}}
Rivero {{goal|50}}

|goals2=Nihat {{goal|12}}
Jauregi {{goal|51}}
Khokhlov {{goal|83}}

|location=Pamplona

|stadium=El Sadar

|attendance=

|referee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=5

|result=W

|date=6 October 2002

|time=18:00 CEST

|team1=Real Sociedad

|score=2–1

|report=

|team2=Real Valladolid

|goals1=Nihat {{goal|66}}
Karpin {{goal|68}}

|goals2=Colsa {{goal|73}}

|location=San Sebastian

|stadium=Anoeta

|attendance=

|referee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=6

|result=D

|date=20 October 2002

|time=18:00 CEST

|team1=Alavés

|score=2–2

|report=

|team2=Real Sociedad

|goals1=Astudillo {{goal|4}}
Rubén Navarro {{goal|86}}

|goals2=Nihat {{goal|33}}
Karpin {{goal|67}}

|location=Vitoria-Gasteiz

|stadium=Mendizorroza

|attendance=

|referee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=7

|result=W

|date=27 October 2002

|time=20:30 CET

|team1=Real Sociedad

|score=2–1

|report=

|team2=Racing Santander

|goals1=Kovačević {{goal|72}}
de Pedro {{goal|89|pen.}}

|goals2=Javi Guerrero {{goal|22}}

|location=San Sebastian

|stadium=Anoeta

|attendance=

|referee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=8

|result=W

|date=3 November 2002

|time=18:00 CET

|team1=Villarreal

|score=0–1

|report=

|team2=Real Sociedad

|goals1=

|goals2=Nihat {{goal|35}}

|location=Vilarreal

|stadium=El Madrigal

|attendance=

|referee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=9

|result=D

|date=9 November 2002

|time=20:00 CET

|team1=Real Sociedad

|score=1–1

|report=

|team2=Deportivo La Coruña

|goals1=Kovačević {{goal|27}}

|goals2=Luque {{goal|40}}

|location=San Sebastian

|stadium=Anoeta

|attendance=

|referee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=10

|result=D

|date=17 November 2002

|time=19:00 CET

|team1=Real Madrid

|score=0–0

|report=

|team2=Real Sociedad

|goals1=

|goals2=

|location=Madrid

|stadium=Santiago Bernabéu

|attendance=

|referee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=11

|result=D

|date=22 November 2002

|time=21:30 CET

|team1=Rayo Vallecano

|score=0–0

|report=

|team2=Real Sociedad

|goals1=

|goals2=

|location=Madrid

|stadium=Teresa Rivero

|attendance=

|referee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=12

|result=W

|date=1 December 2002

|time=19:00 CET

|team1=Real Sociedad

|score=2–1

|report=

|team2=Barcelona

|goals1=Kovačević {{goal|39||53}}

|goals2=Kluivert {{goal|33}}

|location=San Sebastián

|stadium=Anoeta

|attendance=

|referee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=13

|result=W

|date=7 December 2002

|time=21:30 CET

|team1=Sevilla

|score=0–1

|report=

|team2=Real Sociedad

|goals1=

|goals2=Karpin {{goal|70}}

|location=Seville

|stadium=Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán

|attendance=

|referee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=14

|result=W

|date=15 December 2002

|time=17:00 CET

|team1=Real Sociedad

|score=2–1

|report=

|team2=Mallorca

|goals1=de Pedro {{goal|51}}
Aranburu {{goal|57}}

|goals2=Eto'o {{goal|47}}

|location=San Sebastián

|stadium=Anoeta

|attendance=

|referee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=15

|result=W

|date=22 December 2002

|time=17:00 CET

|team1=Recreativo Huelva

|score=1–3

|report=

|team2=Real Sociedad

|goals1=Raúl Molina {{goal|39}}

|goals2=Nihat {{goal|41||56}}
Llorente {{goal|90}}

|location=Huelva

|stadium=Nuevo Colombino

|attendance=

|referee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=16

|result=D

|date=5 January 2003

|time=17:00 CET

|team1=Real Sociedad

|score=2–2

|report=

|team2=Málaga

|goals1=Nihat {{goal|7}}
Khokhlov {{goal|24}}

|goals2=Musampa {{goal|20}}
Darío Silva {{goal|56}}

|location=San Sebastián

|stadium=Anoeta

|attendance=

|referee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=17

|result=D

|date=11 January 2003

|time=21:30 CET

|team1=Valencia

|score=2–2

|report=

|team2=Real Sociedad

|goals1=Fábio Aurélio {{goal|19}}
Aranzábal {{goal|60|o.g.}}

|goals2=Kovačević {{goal|68}}
Nihat {{goal|79}}

|location=Valencia

|stadium=Mestalla

|attendance=

|refer

ee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=18

|result=W

|date=18 January 2003

|time=20:00 CET

|team1=Real Sociedad

|score=1–0

|report=

|team2=Celta de Vigo

|goals1=de Pedro {{goal|64}}

|goals2=

|location=San Sebastián

|stadium=Anoeta

|attendance=

|referee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=19

|result=W

|date=25 January 2003

|time=21:30 CET

|team1=Atlético Madrid

|score=1–2

|report=

|team2=Real Sociedad

|goals1=Luis García {{goal|48}}

|goals2=Korkut {{goal|46}}
Kovačević {{goal|72}}

|location=Madrid

|stadium=Vicente Calderón

|attendance=

|refer

ee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=20

|result=L

|date=2 February 2003

|time=20:30 CET

|team1=Athletic Bilbao

|score=3–0

|report=

|team2=Real Sociedad

|goals1=Etxeberria {{goal|18||75}}
Ezquerro {{goal|90}}

|goals2=

|location=Bilbao

|stadium=San Mamés

|attendance=

|refer

ee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=21

|result=D

|date=9 February 2003

|time=17:00 CET

|team1=Real Sociedad

|score=0–0

|report=

|team2=Espanyol

|goals1=

|goals2=

|location=San Sebastián

|stadium=Anoeta

|attendance=

|referee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=22

|result=L

|date=16 February 2003

|time=20:30 CET

|team1=Real Betis

|score=3–2

|report=

|team2=Real Sociedad

|goals1=Fernando {{goal|11||90|pen.}}
Filipescu {{goal|86}}

|goals2=Nihat {{goal|73||77}}

|location=Seville

|stadium=Manuel Ruiz de Lopera

|attendance=

|refer

ee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=23

|result=W

|date=23 February 2003

|time=17:00 CET

|team1=Real Sociedad

|score=2–0

|report=

|team2=Osasuna

|goals1=Kovačević {{goal|42}}
Aranburu {{goal|64}}

|goals2=

|location=San Sebastián

|stadium=Anoeta

|attendance=

|referee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=24

|result=L

|date=2 March 2003

|time=17:00 CET

|team1=Real Valladolid

|score=3–0

|report=

|team2=Real Sociedad

|goals1=Oliveira {{goal|1||8}}
Óscar {{goal|21}}

|goals2=

|location=Valladolid

|stadium=José Zorrilla

|attendance=

|refer

ee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=25

|result=W

|date=9 March 2003

|time=20:30 CET

|team1=Real Sociedad

|score=3–1

|report=

|team2=Alavés

|goals1=Kovačević {{goal|16}}
Nihat {{goal|39}}
Karpin {{goal|43}}

|goals2=Rubén Navarro {{goal|83|pen.}}

|location=San Sebastián

|stadium=Anoeta

|attendance=

|referee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=26

|result=W

|date=15 March 2003

|time=20:30 CET

|team1=Racing Santander

|score=1–2

|report=

|team2=Real Sociedad

|goals1=Benayoun {{goal|4}}

|goals2=Nihat {{goal|22}}
Karpin {{goal|60}}

|location=Santander

|stadium=El Sardinero

|attendance=

|refer

ee=

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round=27

|result=D

|date=23 March 2003

|time=17:00 CET

|team1=Real Sociedad

|score=2–2

|report=

|team2=Villarreal

|goals1=Kovačević {{goal|14||15|pen.}}

|goals2=Víctor {{goal|88}}
Jorge López {{goal|90}}

|location=San Sebastián

|stadium=Anoeta

|attendance=

|referee=

}}

{{Reflist}}

{{2002–03 in Spanish football}}

{{Real Sociedad seasons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2002-03 Real Sociedad season}}

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

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