2002–03 Celtic F.C. season


Celtic went into the 2002–03 season defending their Scottish Premier League title, which they won in 2001–02.
They also entered the UEFA Champions League at the qualifying stage, as well as taking part in the two domestic cup competitions, the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup.

Season overview

League campaign

Celtic lost out on the title on the last day of the season despite a 4–0 win at Kilmarnock, with a goal difference of 1 less than Rangers over the whole season.

European campaign

Celtic went into third qualifying stage of the Champions League but failed to beat Basel. They then dropped down into the UEFA Cup where they beat teams including Blackburn Rovers, Stuttgart and Liverpool to reach the final where they lost 2–3 after extra time to Porto.

Domestic cups

Celtic reached the final of the Scottish League Cup, but a late penalty miss by John Hartson meant the trophy went to Rangers. As the number of games to be played took its toll, an inexperienced Celtic side lost to Inverness CT in the Scottish Cup.

Matches played

DateVenueOpponentsScoreCompetitionCeltic scorersMatch Report
6 July 2002Tolka ParkShelbourne4 – 1FriendlySutton, Agathe, Hartson
7 July 2002Tolka ParkShamrock Rovers1 – 1FriendlyBalde
10 July 2002Fratton ParkPortsmouth3 – 2FriendlySylla, Petta, Healy
13 July 2002Loftus RoadQPR7 – 3FriendlyHealy, Sutton, Hartson, Maloney, Sylla, Fernández
17 July 2002SF Liebnitz3 – 1FriendlyMaloney, Fernández
19 July 2002Werder Bremen2 – 6FriendlyHartson, Fernández
24 July 2002Celtic ParkAjax1 – 3FriendlySutton
27 July 2002Celtic ParkParma2 – 1FriendlySutton, Sylla
3 August 2002Celtic ParkDunfermline2 – 1SPLLarsson
7 August 2002White Hart LaneTottenham Hotspur1 – 1FriendlyMaloney
10 August 2002PittodrieAberdeen4 – 0SPLMjällby, Sutton, Sylla, Lambert
14 August 2002Celtic ParkBasel3 – 1CLQLarsson, Sutton, Sylla
17 August 2002Celtic ParkDundee United5 – 0SPLMcNamara, Sutton, Petrov, Hartson, Larsson
24 August 2002FirhillPartick Thistle1 – 0SPLLarsson
28 August 2002St. Jakob-ParkBasel0 – 2CLQ
1 September 2002Celtic ParkLivingston2 – 0SPLLarsson, Balde
11 September 2002Fir ParkMotherwell1 – 2SPLHartson
14 September 2002Celtic ParkHibernian1 – 0SPLHartson
19 September 2002Celtic ParkFK Sūduva8 – 1UCLarsson, Petrov, Sutton, Lambert, Hartson, Valgaeren
22 September 2002Dens ParkDundee1 – 0SPLLarsson
28 September 2002Celtic ParkKilmarnock5 – 0SPLLarsson, Sutton
3 October 2002Sūduva stadiumFK Sūduva2 – 0UCFernández, Thompson
6 October 2002Celtic ParkRangers3 – 3SPLSutton, Larsson
8 October 2002Adams ParkWycombe Wanderers4 – 0FLarsson, Cousins, Sylla
20 October 2002TynecastleHeart of Midlothian4 – 1SPLSutton, Petrov, Larsson
23 October 2002Celtic ParkInverness CT4 – 2SLCMaloney, Thompson, Hartson
27 October 2002East End ParkDunfermline4 – 1SPLLarsson, Thompson, Petrov, Sutton
31 October 2002Celtic ParkBlackburn Rovers1 – 0UCLarsson
3 November 2002Celtic ParkAberdeen7 – 0SPLHartson, Larsson, Balde, Maloney
6 November 2002Celtic ParkPartick Thistle1 – 1 SLCThompson
10 November 2002TannadiceDundee United2 – 0SPLHartson, Sutton
14 November 2002Ewood ParkBlackburn Rovers2 – 0UCLarsson, Sutton
17 November 2002Celtic ParkPartick Thistle4 – 0SPLSutton, Larsson, Petrov
24 November 2002Almondvale StadiumLivingston2 – 0SPLLarsson
28 November 2002Celtic ParkCelta Vigo1 – 0UCLarsson
1 December 2002Celtic ParkMotherwell3 – 1SPLLarsson, Leitch, Valgaeren
4 December 2002Easter RoadHibernian1 – 0SPLPetrov
7 December 2002IbroxRangers2 – 3SPLSutton, Hartson
12 December 2002Estadio BalaídosCelta Vigo1 – 2UCHartson
15 December 2002Rugby ParkKilmarnock1 – 1SPLValgaeren
21 December 2002Celtic ParkDundee2 – 0SPLHartson, Larsson
26 December 2002Celtic ParkHeart of Midlothian4 – 2SPLHartson, Larsson
29 December 2002Celtic ParkDunfermline1 – 0SPLLarsson
2 January 2003PittodrieAberdeen1 – 1SPLLarsson
22 January 2003Celtic ParkFeyenoord2 – 3FriendlyHartson, Sylla
25 January 2003Celtic ParkSt Mirren3 – 0SCLarsson, Sylla
29 January 2003Celtic ParkDundee United2 – 0SPLHartson, Larsson
1 February 2003Firhill StadiumPartick Thistle2 – 0SPLSutton
6 February 2003HampdenDundee United3 – 0SLCBalde, Larsson
9 February 2003Celtic ParkLivingston2 – 1SPLSylla, Sutton
20 February 2003Celtic ParkStuttgart3 – 1UCLambert, Maloney, Petrov
23 February 2003Celtic ParkSt Johnstone3 – 0SCHartson, Smith
27 February 2003Mercedes-Benz ArenaStuttgart2 – 3UCThompson, Sutton
2 March 2003Celtic ParkHibernian3 – 2SPLHartson, Mjällby
8 March 2003Celtic ParkRangers1 – 0SPLHartson
13 March 2003Celtic ParkLiverpool1 – 1UCLarsson
16 March 2003HampdenRangers1 – 2SLCLarsson
20 March 2003AnfieldLiverpool2 – 0UCThompson, Hartson
23 March 2003Caledonian StadiumInverness CT0 – 1SC
6 April 2003Dens ParkDundee1 – 1SPLThompson
10 April 2003Celtic ParkBoavista1 – 1UCLarsson
13 April 2003Celtic ParkKilmarnock2 – 0SPLLarsson, Petrov
19 April 2003TynecastleHeart of Midlothian1 – 2SPLThompson
24 April 2003Estádio do BessaBoavista1 – 0UCLarsson
27 April 2003IbroxRangers2 – 1SPLThompson, Hartson
3 May 2003East End ParkDunfermline Atthletic4 – 1SPLLarsson, Petrov, Thompson
7 May 2003Fir ParkMotherwell4 – 0SPLPetrov, Lambert
10 May 2003Celtic ParkHeart of Midlothian1 – 0SPLThompson
14 May 2003Celtic ParkDundee6 – 2SPLLarsson, Thompson, Maloney, Mjällby
21 May 2003Estadio Ramón Sánchez PizjuánPorto2 – 3UCLarsson
25 May 2003Rugby ParkKilmarnock4 – 0SPLSutton, Thompson, Petrov

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

List of squad players, including number of appearances by competition

Team statistics

League table

Transfers

In

Out