The 2002–03 Club Atletico River Plate season was the club's 73nd season in the Argentine Primera División.
The season was split into two tournaments (format adopted since 1990–91 season) Apertura (Opening) 2002 (from August to December 2002), and Clausura (Closing) 2003 (from February to June 2003).
The club's kit was provided by Adidas, and the sponsor was Budweiser beer.
Season events On May 23, 2002, Manuel Pellegrini was presented as new manager of River Plate.
On July 22, midfielder Lucho González moved from Huracán to River Plate. The transfer was made for US$700,000.
On June 15, 2003 during Round 16 of Torneo Clausura 2003, River Plate defeated Lanús and because Velez and Boca tied games, finished the match day as sole leaders.https://www.lanacion.com.ar/504218-trepada-river-a-la-punta-con-goles-y-decision "Rise: River, to the top with goals and decision"
On June 29, during Round 18, River defeated Olimpo in Bahía Blanca and won the championship, by getting a difference of 4 points to rivals Boca Juniors, with only 1 round to go.http://edant.clarin.com/suplementos/especiales/2003/06/30/l-582185.htm "River shouted Champions in Bahía Blanca and it was heard throughout the country"
Apertura Squad
Clausura Squad
Transfers In DatePos.NameFromFee11 June 2002GK José María Buljubasich Rosario CentralLoan1 July 2002DF Marcelo Gómez HuracánLoan return1 July 2002DF Jersson González GalatasarayLoan22 July 2002DF Lucho González HuracánUSD 700,0002 August 2002DF Esteban Fuertes CD TenerifeUSD 250,000 (Loan from RC Lens)11 January 2003MF Claudio Husaín NapoliUSD 300,0008 January 2003DF Martín del Campo NacionalLoan11 January 2003DF Máximo Lucas DanubioLoan16 January 2003MF Eduardo Coudet Celta de VigoLoan return1 February 2003FW Darío Husaín Vélez SarsfieldFreeDarío Husain quedó libre de Vélez y River acelera los trámites1 February 2003FW Horacio Ameli São Paulo FCUSD 175,000 (Loan)
Out DatePos.NameToFee1 July 2002FW Ariel Ortega Fenerbahçe£6m1 July 2002FW Martín Cardetti Paris Saint-GermainFree2 September 2002MF Eduardo Coudet Celta de VigoLoan €200,0001 July 2002MF Cristian Ledesma Hamburger SVUSD 4,000,0001 January 2003DF Javier Gandolfi TalleresLoan1 January 2003DF Damián Álvarez Monarcas MoreliaLoan USD 150,0001 January 2003DF Jersson González Centauros VillavicencioLoan end1 January 2003DF Alejandro Escalona EvertonLoan end
Competitions
Pre-season and friendlies
Apertura 2002
League table
Results by matchday
Fixtures and results
Clausura 2003
League table
Results by matchday
Fixtures and results
Evolution of the league table River Plate, Boca Juniors and Velez Sarsfield were the teams who kept the championship lead for most of the tournament.
2002 Copa Sudamericana
2003 Copa Libertadores
Group stage
Knockout phase
Round of 16
Quarter-finals
Squad statistics Appearances and goals No.Pos.NameTotalLeague2002 Copa Sudamericana2003 Copa LibertadoresDisciplineAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals1GK Ángel Comizzo1701501010302DF Celso Ayala1801602000213DF Ricardo Ismael Rojas2402001030814 MF Jersson González80602000304 MF Claudio Husaín1811211050625MF Leonardo Astrada2702201040506DF Martín Demichelis46235120911217FW Alejandro Domínguez1651551000408MF Eduardo Coudet2832020081309FW Fernando Cavenaghi4324332120832010MF Andrés D'Alessandro40142910101049011MF Víctor Zapata22115100702012GK José María Buljubasich26017010801013 DF Javier Gandolfi101000000013 DF Martín del Campo402000200014DF Ariel Garcé43034010805115MF Guillermo Pereyra32324310701216DF Matías Lequi27220100715017GK Franco Costanzo706001000018MF Diego Barrado17211220400019 MF Gabriel Pereyra303000001019 MF Osmar Ferreyra202000000020 MF Juan Pablo Raponi 101000000020 FW Darío Husaín19311300801121 MF Damián Ariel Álvarez 816120000021 DF Horacio Ameli23216200708122 GK Germán Lux000000000023FW Maxi López716110000024FW Nelson Cuevas101000000025FW Luciano Leguizamón202000000026FW Andrés Aimar111100000027MF Lucho González42932820810028MF Daniel Ludueña18114000410030FW Esteban Fuertes451634121010400
Source:www.livefutbol.com
References
Sources Estévez, Diego Ariel; Ciento cinco: historia de un siglo rojo y blanco; 2006