The 2002–03 season was a challenging and chaotic period for FC Barcelona, marking the final year of Joan Gaspart’s presidency. This season is often remembered as one of the club’s least successful in modern history, plagued by managerial instability and poor performances on the pitch.
Barcelona underwent significant disruption during the season, changing managers three times. The campaign began under Louis van Gaal, who was sacked in January after a series of poor results. Antonio de la Cruz briefly took over as interim manager, but he was soon replaced by Radomir Antić, who saw out the season. These frequent changes disrupted the team’s momentum and cohesion, ultimately contributing to their disappointing sixth-place finish in La Liga — the club’s worst league position in 15 years. This finish barely secured a place in the UEFA Cup for the following season.
The Copa del Rey campaign was similarly disappointing, with Barcelona exiting in the first round to third-tier side Novelda. However, the team’s performance in Europe was a relative bright spot. Barcelona reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League and set a record for the most consecutive wins in the competition, with 11. Despite this achievement, they were eliminated by Juventus after a hard-fought two-legged tie.
This turbulent season prompted sweeping changes at the club. Joan Gaspart resigned as president in February 2003, and an interim managing commission took over until Joan Laporta was elected president in June. These changes laid the groundwork for a new era, which would ultimately see Barcelona return to prominence in the years to come.
Patrick Kluivert was the team’s top scorer, netting 16 goals in La Liga and 21 in all competitions. However, even his contributions could not salvage a season marred by instability and underperformance.
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