2002–03 AFC Ajax season

During the 2002–03 Dutch football season, AFC Ajax competed in the Eredivisie.

AFC Ajax
2002–03 season
Chairman Michael van Praag
Manager Ronald Koeman
StadiumAmsterdam Arena
Eredivisie2nd
KNVB CupSemi-finals
Champions LeagueQuarter-finals
Johan Cruyff ShieldWinners
Top goalscorerRafael van der Vaart (18)

Season summary

Despite being the top scorers in the Eredivisie, Ajax were unable to defend their title and finished second. They also failed to retain the cup, but compensated by reaching the Champions League quarter-finals before being knocked out by eventual winners A.C. Milan.

First-team 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. Position Player
1 GK Bogdan Lobonț
2 DF Hatem Trabelsi
3 DF André Bergdølmo
4 DF Tomáš Galásek
5 DF Cristian Chivu
7 MF Andy van der Meyde
8 MF Richard Witschge
9 FW Zlatan Ibrahimović
10 MF Steven Pienaar
12 DF John Heitinga
13 DF Maxwell
15 MF Wesley Sneijder
16 DF Petri Pasanen
17 FW Wamberto
No. Position Player
18 DF John O'Brien
20 MF Jari Litmanen
21 GK Joey Didulica[2]
22 MF Abubakari Yakubu
23 MF Rafael van der Vaart
24 DF Jelle van Damme
25 MF David Mendes da Silva (on loan from Sparta Rotterdam)
26 MF Nigel de Jong
27 FW Victor Sikora
28 MF Nourdin Boukhari
29 MF Jamal Akachar
30 MF Stefano Seedorf
31 GK Maarten Stekelenburg
32 GK Henk Timmer (on loan from AZ)

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. Position Player
6 MF Aron Winter (retired)
11 FW Mido (on loan to Celta Vigo)
14 MF Jan van Halst
19 FW Nikos Machlas (on loan to Sevilla)
No. Position Player
DF Tim de Cler (to AZ)
MF Daniel Cruz (on loan to Germinal Beerschot)
FW Cedric van der Gun (on loan to Willem II)

Reserve squad

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

No. Position Player
DF Mitchell Piqué
No. Position Player

Transfers

In

Out

Results

UEFA Champions League

Second group stage
27 November 2002 Valencia 1 – 1 AjaxEstadio Mestalla, Valencia
20:45 Angulo  90' Report Ibrahimović  89' Attendance: 48,000
Referee: Gilles Veissière (France)
10 December 2002 Ajax 2 – 1 RomaAmsterdam Arena, Amsterdam
20:45 Ibrahimović  11'
Litmanen  66'		 Report Batistuta  89' Attendance: 50,148
Referee: Markus Merk (Germany)
18 December 2002 Arsenal 1 – 1 AjaxHighbury, London
20:45 Wiltord  5' Report De Jong  17' Attendance: 35,427
Referee: Lucílio Batista (Portugal)
26 February 2003 Ajax 0 – 0 ArsenalAmsterdam Arena, Amsterdam
20:45 Report Attendance: 51,500
Referee: Valentin Ivanov (Russia)
11 March 2003 Ajax 1 – 1 ValenciaAmsterdam Arena, Amsterdam
20:45 Pasanen  56' Report González  28' (pen.) Referee: Ľuboš Micheľ (Slovakia)
19 March 2003 Roma 1 – 1 AjaxStadio Olimpico, Rome
20:45 Cassano  23' Report Van der Meyde  1' Attendance: 62,000
Referee: Herbert Fandel (Germany)

References
  1. http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/holland/2002-2003/ere/ajax.htm
  2. Didulica was born in Geelong, Australia, but also qualified to represent Croatia internationally.
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