Manchester United won the 2002/03 Premier League. They finished on 83 points, 5 points ahead of Arsenal, and claimed their eighth Premier League title.
Title answer and season snapshot
The season ran from 17 August 2002 to 11 May 2003. There were 20 clubs, each playing 38 matches, for a total of 380 matches and 1000 goals at 2.63 per match.
At the top end, Manchester United finished first, Arsenal were second, and Newcastle United and Chelsea completed the top four. Manchester United's league record was 25 wins, 8 draws and 5 defeats.
Premier League 2002/03 final table
The final table gives the clearest picture of where every club ended the season.
| Pos | Club | Played | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester United | 38 | +40 | 83 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 38 | +43 | 78 |
| 3 | Newcastle United | 38 | +15 | 69 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 38 | +30 | 67 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 38 | +20 | 64 |
| 6 | Blackburn Rovers | 38 | +9 | 60 |
| 7 | Everton | 38 | -1 | 59 |
| 8 | Southampton | 38 | -3 | 52 |
| 9 | Manchester City | 38 | -7 | 51 |
| 10 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | -11 | 50 |
| 11 | Middlesbrough | 38 | +4 | 49 |
| 12 | Charlton Athletic | 38 | -11 | 49 |
| 13 | Birmingham City | 38 | -8 | 48 |
| 14 | Fulham | 38 | -9 | 48 |
| 15 | Leeds United | 38 | +1 | 47 |
| 16 | Aston Villa | 38 | -5 | 45 |
| 17 | Bolton Wanderers | 38 | -10 | 44 |
| 18 | West Ham United | 38 | -17 | 42 |
| 19 | West Bromwich Albion | 38 | -36 | 26 |
| 20 | Sunderland | 38 | -44 | 19 |
Manchester United finished five points ahead of Arsenal, with Newcastle United and Chelsea completing the top four. At the bottom, West Ham United went down in 18th, two points behind Bolton Wanderers.
Awards and statistical leaders
The season's individual honours and statistical leaders are below.
| Award | Winner | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Boot | Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United) | 25 goals |
| Most clean sheets | Brad Friedel | 15 clean sheets |
| Most assists | Thierry Henry | 20 assists |
| Player of the Season | Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United) | - |
| Manager of the Season | Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United) | - |
Manchester United did more than win the league. The club also had the Golden Boot winner, the Player of the Season and the Manager of the Season.
Two later awards should be separated from the 2002/03 record. The Golden Glove was first awarded in 2004/05, and the Playmaker award did not begin until 2017/18, so for this season the relevant official facts are the leaders in clean sheets and assists.
Relegation and promoted clubs
The relegated clubs were West Ham United, West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland. They finished in the bottom three of the final table and dropped out of the division.
The promoted clubs for 2002/03 were Manchester City, Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion. West Bromwich Albion went straight back down, while the other two stayed up.
FAQ
Who won the Premier League in 2003?
The league title completed in May 2003 went to Manchester United. In standard season format, that is the 2002/03 Premier League.
Who got relegated from the Premier League in 2002/03?
West Ham United, West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland were relegated. They occupied the final three places in the table.
Who was the top scorer in the Premier League in 2002/03?
Ruud van Nistelrooy of Manchester United won the Golden Boot with 25 goals. He also collected the Player of the Season award.
Does 2002/03 count as a 2002 season or a 2003 season?
It is officially the 2002/03 season because it started in August 2002 and ended in May 2003. References to the league winner in 2003 usually mean the side that finished first at the end of that season.