During the 2003–04 season, Middlesbrough participated in the FA Premier League.
Team kit and sponsors Middlesbrough were sponsored by Dial-a-Phone, the team's kit was produced by Errea. The home shirt consisted of a plain red shirt, red shorts and red socks with white trim. The away strip was mainly navy blue with maroon shoulders, navy shorts and navy socks, with maroon detailing.
Season review
League review To start their season, Middlesbrough lost four of their first five games (their worst start since the 1984–85 season) and taking only one point. This set the foundations for a season where they remained low in the rankings.
Middlesbrough hovered around the relegation spots for the first third of the season. However, they eventually found some form through November and December and went unbeaten for eight games which took them away from the relegation zone.
Middlesbrough's form was again inconsistent after Christmas, but they managed to pick up enough points to finish in a respectable 11th place.
Domestic cup review The league cup campaign was the highlight of the season for Middlesbrough. It was one that would bring them their first major trophy in their 128-year history.
It started in late September with a home match against Brighton and Hove Albion and Boro low down in the league due to a terrible start. Middlesbrough made hard work of it against lower league opposition, but managed to scrape through with a 94th minute extra-time goal from Malcolm Christie.
The next round saw Boro comfortably beat Wigan Athletic 2–1 away with goals from Maccarone and Mendieta to set up a fourth round home match against Everton.
The match against Everton was a closely contested affair, which ended 0–0 after extra time - penalties were needed to decide the winner. Middlesbrough won the shoot-out 5–4, with Mark Schwarzer saving from Leon Osman and Mendieta converting the winning penalty.
The quarter finals saw Middlesbrough face Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. Spurs led most of the match through a first-minute Darren Anderton goal. It took an 86th-minute equaliser from Michael Ricketts to send the game into extra time. No goals were scored in extra time, meaning Boro had a penalty shoot out for the second successive round. The shoot out went into sudden death, but after Mauricio Taricco's penalty hit the post, Franck Queudrue converted his penalty to win the game.
Boro's semi final was a two legged match against a youthful Arsenal team. The first leg went Middlesbrough's way with them taking a 1–0 lead thanks to a Juninho goal. Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger chose a few more experienced players for the vital second leg, but to no avail: Boro won 2–1 on the night for a 3–1 aggregate win.
The final was on 29 February 2004 against Bolton Wanderers at the Millennium Stadium. The game started in the best way possible for Boro, with goals from Joseph Desire-Job and Bolo Zenden giving them an early 2–0 lead. A mistake from Mark Schwarzer let Kevin Davies get one back, and the score remained 2–1 at half time. Both teams had chances to score in the second half, but the score stayed the same, giving Boro their first ever major trophy.
The FA Cup campaign wasn't as successful. After a comfortable 2–0 win at home to Notts County, Boro were drawn against Arsenal in the fourth round. They lost the match 4–1 sending them out of the competition.
Final league table
Squad
Senior squad
Left club during season
Transfers
In DatePlayerPrevious clubCost 1 July 2003 Doriva Celta VigoFree 4 August 2003 Alan WrightUnattachedFree 24 August 2003 Danny MillsLeeds UnitedLoan 28 August 2003 Gaizka Mendieta LazioLoan (signed at end of season) 30 August 2003 Boudewijn ZendenChelseaLoan 2 February 2004 Ricardinho São PauloFree
Out DatePlayerNew clubCost5 August 2003 Noel WhelanMillwallFree13 August 2003 Mark CrossleyFulhamUndisclosed14 November 2003 Carlos MarinelliReleasedFree31 October 2003 Alan WrightSheffield UnitedLoan (made permanent on 12 January 2004)30 April 2004 RicardinhoReleasedFree
Premier League results
Note: Results are given with Middlesbrough score listed first. Man of the Match is according to mfc.co.uk.
GameDateVenueOpponentResultF–AAttendanceBoro GoalscorersMan of the Match116 August 2003AFulham2–314,546Marinelli 10', Németh 81'224 August 2003HArsenal0–429,450326 August 2003ALeicester City0–030,823Davies430 August 2003HLeeds United2–330,414Németh 60', Juninho 63'Mendieta513 September 2003ABolton Wanderers0–226,419621 September 2003HEverton1–028,113Job 6'727 September 2003ASouthampton1–030,772Christie 13'85 October 2003HChelsea1–229,170Németh 46'918 October 2003HNewcastle United0–134,0811026 October 2003ATottenham Hotspur0–032,643111 November 2003HWolverhampton Wanderers2–030,305Mendieta 73', Juninho 83'128 November 2003AAston Villa2–029,898Zenden 30', Ricketts 49'(pen)1322 November 2003HLiverpool0–034,2681429 November 2003AManchester City1–046,824Sun Jihai (o.g.)156 December 2003HPortsmouth0–0280311613 December 2003HCharlton Athletic0–026,7211726 December 2003ABlackburn Rovers2–225,452Juninho 31', 51'1828 December 2003HManchester United0–134,738197 January 2004HFulham2–127,869Job 15', Németh 67'2010 January 2004AArsenal1–438,117Maccarone 89' (pen)2120 January 2004HLeicester City3–327,125Juninho 8', Maccarone 90', Curtis 90' (o.g.)2231 January 2004ALeeds United3–035,970Zenden 53', Job 77', Ricketts 89'(pen)237 February 2004HBlackburn Rovers0–128,3072411 February 2004AManchester United3–267,346Juninho 34', 38', Job 80'2521 February 2004ANewcastle United1–252,156Zenden 33'263 March 2004ABirmingham City1–329,369Németh 75'279 March 2004HTottenham Hotspur1–031,789Németh 73'2813 March 2004ACharlton Athletic0–126,2702920 March 2004HBirmingham City5–330,244Mendieta 5', Maccarone 21', 45', Southgate 30', Németh 90'3027 March 2004AEverton1–138,210Job 83'313 April 2004HBolton Wanderers2–030,107Nolan 8' (o.g.), Greening 51'3210 April 2004AChelsea0–040,8733312 April 2004HSouthampton3–130,768Juninho 23', Németh 32', Maccarone 49'3417 April 2004AWolverhampton Wanderers0–227,9753524 April 2004HAston Villa1–231,322Job 41'362 May 2004ALiverpool0–242,031378 May 2004HManchester City2–134,734Maccarone 8', Németh 32'3815 May 2004APortsmouth1–520,134Zenden 27'
Cup results
League Cup +RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers 224 September 2003BrightonHome1-0 (a.e.t.)10,435Christie 329 October 2003WiganAway2-18,046Maccarone, Mendieta43 December 2003EvertonHome0-0 (5–4 pens)18,568 517 December 2003TottenhamAway1-1 (5–4 pens)25,307Ricketts SF Leg 120 January 2004ArsenalAway1-031,070Juninho SF Leg 23 February 2004ArsenalHome2-1 (3–1 agg.)28,046Zenden, Reyes og Final29 February 2004BoltonMillennium Stadium2-172,634Job, Zenden (pen)
FA Cup +RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers33 January 2004Notts CountyHome2-015,061Richardson og, Zenden424 January 2004ArsenalAway1-437,256Job
Player statistics
Goalscorers Goalscoring statistics for 2003-04. +NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotal Juninho8019 Németh8008 Job6118 Zenden5128 Maccarone6017 Mendieta2013 Ricketts2013 Christie1012 Marinelli1001 Greening1001 Southgate1001Own Goals3115
Appearances / Discipline Appearance and disciplinary records for 2003-04 league and cup matches. +NameAppearancesYellow cardsRed cards Schwarzer4400 Jones200 Nash100 Parnaby9+720 Queudrue4070 Ehiogu1930 Riggott19+530 Southgate3410 Mills37100 Wright200 Davies8+200 Stockdale0+200 Cooper19+230 Mendieta37+130 Boateng4381 Juninho31+730 Downing10+1400 Morrison0+200 Greening21+850 Doriva23+360 Marinelli100 Zenden38+151 Maccarone18+1220 Ricketts12+1840 Németh20+1820 Job22+710
Notes
References and notes