Looking back at everything you need to know from the 2002/03 Manchester United season.
The 2002/03 campaign was a memorable one for Manchester United as Sir Alex Ferguson’s ability to drive a team to success was evident yet again in the Premier League title race.
United were eight points behind rivals Arsenal by March 2003, but one of the greatest run-ins in Premier League history would follow.
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The Red Devils went 18 matches unbeaten from late December as Ferguson won his eighth Premier League title.
Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson
United reached the Champions League quarter-finals before getting knocked out by Real Madrid, losing 5-6 on aggregate.
In March, it not only looked like the title was slipping away from Ferguson’s side. The Red Devils also lost the League Cup final 2-0 against Liverpool.
The FA Cup run ended in the fifth round after losing 2-0 against Arsenal.
Manchester United celebrate Premier League success in 2003
Photo by John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
Season outcome and top scorer
Premier League position: Winners
Points total: 83
FA Cup: Fifth Round
League Cup: Final
Champions League: Quarter-finals
Trophies: 1
Ruud van Nistelrooy finished the season as United’s top scorer with 44 goals. The Dutch goalscorer scored 25 goals in the Premier League that season.
Top scorer: Ruud van Nistelrooy – 44
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Signings:
Rio Ferdinand
Ricardo
Hussein Yasser
Souleymane Mamam
Memorable matches
Manchester United 2-2 Arsenal
Towards the end of the season, United went into the game needing to avoid defeat to maintain their momentum over Arsenal.
Arsenal took the lead not once but twice following goals from Gilberto Silva and Thierry Henry.
United fought back with goals from Van Nistelrooy and Ryan Giggs to secure a draw that dealt a massive blow to the Gunners.
Manchester United 4-3 Real Madrid
Despite going out of the Champions League, this will forever be remembered as one of the great European ties as United claimed a high-scoring victory over the defending champions.
Ronaldo scored a hat-trick for Real Madrid and received a standing ovation from the Old Trafford faithful when he was substituted.
Meanwhile, Ivan Helguera scored one of United’s goals after putting the ball into his own net. Van Nistelrooy also went on the scoresheet as David Beckham completed a brace after coming off the bench.
Manchester United 4-0 Liverpool
United hammered Liverpool in April before going on to win the league title.
Van Nistelrooy scored two, as Giggs and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also got on the scoresheet.
Liverpool put up a fight, but as soon as the second goal went in it was game over.
Charlton Athletic 1-4 Manchester United
This game will be remembered because Van Nistelrooy scored one of his greatest goals for the club in it.
The lethal striker picked up the ball near the halfway line before beating two defenders and chipping the ball over the goalkeeper. It was one of three goals scored by Van Nistelrooy on the day.
Beckham opened the scoring in the 11th minute, just two minutes before Claus Jensen equalised.
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Manchester United 3-0 West Ham
This win proved vital in the title race because it meant United were champions when Arsenal drew with Bolton a week later.
The goals on the day came from Paul Scholes, Giggs and Van Nistelrooy.
What else happened in 2002/03?
Van Nistelrooy won the Premier League Golden Boot award with 25 goals.
On top of that, Van Nistelrooy was voted the best player in the Premier League.
It was Beckham’s final season at United before joining Real Madrid.