# 2002–03 Deportivo Toluca F.C. season

The 2002–03 season was Toluca's 85th season in existence and their 50th consecutive season in the top flight of Mexican football. The club participated in the Apertura and Clausura tournaments of the Mexican Primera División and in the 2003 CONCACAF Champions' Cup (the entire tournament, except for the finals, were played on the first semester of 2003). Toluca were crowned champions of the Apertura 2002 tournament after defeating Morelia in the final.
In an unusual situation, Toluca had three different managers during the season. Ricardo La Volpe left the team after the 15th round of the Apertura tournament after being called to the Mexico national football team and appointed manager, substituting Javier Aguirre. La Volpe was replaced by Wilson Graniolatti, who resigned on 7 December, citing differences with Toluca's front office, specially with the chairman Rafael Lebrija. Graniolatti was replaced by Alberto Jorge, head of the Reserves and Academy, hired to manage the team for the rest of the playoffs (four games only). Since Jorge managed to win the Apertura tournament, he was ratified as manager of the team for the second half of the season.
This season remains as a highlight both in Mexican football and Toluca's history. Paraguayan striker José Cardozo broke several scoring records: Cardozo scored 29 goals in the Apertura 2002 regular season and was crowned as the tournament's top scorer; 36 goals in the Apertura 2002 tournament, including playoffs; and 58 goals in the 2002–03 Primera División season. All the three records remain unbeaten as of 2020.

## Players
### Apertura

| No. | Pos. | Name | Date of birth (Age) | Since |
| 1 | GK | Hernán Cristante | (1969-09-16)16 September 1969 (aged 32) | 1993 |
| 2 | DF | Christian Ramírez | (1978-08-08)8 August 1978 (aged 23) | 2002 |
| 3 | DF | Maximiliano Cuberas | (1973-08-16)16 August 1973 (aged 28) | 2001 |
| 4 | DF | Hassan Viades | (1978-01-10)10 January 1978 (aged 24) | 1999 |
| 5 | MF | Israel López | (1974-09-29)29 September 1974 (aged 27) | 2002 |
| 6 | MF | Octavio Valdez | (1973-12-07)7 December 1973 (aged 28) | 2002 |
| 7 | DF | Salvador Carmona (Captain) | (1975-08-22)22 August 1975 (aged 26) | 1993 |
| 8 | MF | Rafael García | (1974-08-14)14 August 1974 (aged 27) | 1998 |
| 9 | FW | José Cardozo | (1971-03-19)19 March 1971 (aged 31) | 1995 |
| 10 | MF | Sinha | (1976-05-23)23 May 1976 (aged 26) | 1999 |
| 11 | FW | Vicente Sánchez | (1979-12-07)7 December 1979 (aged 22) | 2001 |
| 12 | GK | César Lozano | (1977-05-31)31 May 1977 (aged 25) | 2002 |
| 14 | DF | Ariel Franco | (1979-06-02)2 June 1979 (aged 23) | 2002 |
| 15 | FW | Uzziel Lozano | (1981-11-27)27 November 1981 (aged 20) | 2000 |
| 16 | DF | Miguel Almazán | (1982-05-06)6 May 1982 (aged 20) | 2002 |
| 18 | DF | José Manuel Cruzalta | (1978-04-08)8 April 1978 (aged 24) | 2001 |
| 19 | MF | Sergio Amaury Ponce | (1981-08-13)13 August 1981 (aged 20) | 2001 |
| 21 | DF | José Armando Núñez | (1978-09-15)15 September 1978 (aged 23) | 2002 |
| 23 | MF | Erik Espinosa | (1980-01-13)13 January 1980 (aged 22) | 2000 |
| 25 | DF | Edgar García | (1980-05-24)24 May 1980 (aged 22) | 2002 |
| 28 | FW | Édgar González | (1980-07-03)3 July 1980 (aged 22) | 2002 |
| 30 | GK | Mario Albarrán | (1968-01-04)4 January 1968 (aged 34) | 1998 |
| 37 | MF | Josué Castillejos | (1981-04-14)14 April 1981 (aged 21) | 2002 |

### Clausura

| No. | Pos. | Name | Date of birth (Age) | Since |
| 1 | GK | Hernán Cristante | (1969-09-16)16 September 1969 (aged 33) | 1993 |
| 3 | DF | Maximiliano Cuberas | (1973-08-16)16 August 1973 (aged 29) | 2001 |
| 4 | DF | Hassan Viades | (1978-01-10)10 January 1978 (aged 25) | 1999 |
| 5 | MF | Israel López | (1974-09-29)29 September 1974 (aged 28) | 2002 |
| 6 | MF | Octavio Valdez | (1973-12-07)7 December 1973 (aged 29) | 2002 |
| 7 | DF | Salvador Carmona (Captain) | (1975-08-22)22 August 1975 (aged 27) | 1993 |
| 8 | MF | Rafael García | (1974-08-14)14 August 1974 (aged 28) | 1998 |
| 9 | FW | José Cardozo | (1971-03-19)19 March 1971 (aged 31) | 1995 |
| 10 | MF | Sinha | (1976-05-23)23 May 1976 (aged 26) | 1999 |
| 11 | FW | Vicente Sánchez | (1979-12-07)7 December 1979 (aged 23) | 2001 |
| 12 | GK | César Lozano | (1977-05-31)31 May 1977 (aged 25) | 2002 |
| 14 | DF | Ariel Franco | (1979-06-02)2 June 1979 (aged 23) | 2002 |
| 16 | DF | Miguel Almazán | (1982-05-06)6 May 1982 (aged 20) | 2002 |
| 18 | DF | José Manuel Cruzalta | (1978-04-08)8 April 1978 (aged 24) | 2001 |
| 19 | MF | Sergio Amaury Ponce | (1981-08-13)13 August 1981 (aged 21) | 2001 |
| 21 | DF | José Armando Núñez | (1978-09-15)15 September 1978 (aged 24) | 2002 |
| 23 | MF | Erik Espinosa | (1980-01-13)13 January 1980 (aged 22) | 2000 |
| 25 | DF | Edgar García | (1980-05-24)24 May 1980 (aged 22) | 2002 |
| 28 | FW | Édgar González | (1980-07-03)3 July 1980 (aged 22) | 2002 |
| 30 | GK | Mario Albarrán | (1968-01-04)4 January 1968 (aged 35) | 1998 |
| 37 | MF | Josué Castillejos | (1981-04-14)14 April 1981 (aged 21) | 2002 |

## Transfers
### In

| No. | Pos. | Player | Moving from | Type | Transfer window |
| 2 | DF | Christian Ramírez | UNAM | Transfer | Summer |
| 5 | MF | Israel López | Guadalajara | Transfer | Summer |
| 6 | MF | Octavio Valdez | América | Transfer | Summer |
| 14 | DF | Ariel Franco | River Plate | Loan | Summer |
| 16 | DF | Miguel Almazán | Academy | Promotion | Summer |
| 21 | DF | José Armando Núñez | Necaxa | Transfer | Summer |
| 28 | FW | Édgar González | Academy | Promotion | Summer |
| 37 | MF | Josué Castillejos | Academy | Promotion | Summer |

### Out

| No. | Pos. | Player | Moving to | Type | Transfer window |
| – | DF | Omar Blanco | Atlas | Transfer | Summer |
| 15 | FW | Carlos María Morales | Atlas | Transfer | Summer |
| 2 | DF | Christian Ramírez | Morelia | Transfer | Winter |
| 15 | FW | Uzziel Lozano | Fénix | Transfer | Winter |

## Competitions
### Overview

| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| Apertura | 3 August 2002 | 21 December 2002 | Matchday 1 | Winners | 25 | 16 | 5 | 4 | 70 | 33 | +37 | 064.00 |
| Clausura | 12 January 2003 | 31 May 2003 | Matchday 1 | Quarterfinals (5th) | 21 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 43 | 34 | +9 | 047.62 |
| CONCACAF Champions' Cup | 12 March 2003 | 30 April 2003 | First round | Semifinals$^1$ | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 11 | +4 | 066.67 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 52 | 30 | 10 | 12 | 128 | 78 | +50 | 057.69 |
Source: Mediotiempo.com
1. Toluca qualified to the 2003 CONCACAF Champions' Cup final, to be played on the next season.

### Torneo Apertura
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | América | 19 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 34 | 14 | +20 | 43 | Directly qualified to the Liguilla (Playoffs) |
| 2 | Toluca | 19 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 55 | 25 | +30 | 41 | Directly qualified to the Liguilla (Playoffs) |
| 3 | UNAM | 19 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 39 | 35 | +4 | 33 | Directly qualified to the Liguilla (Playoffs) |
| 4 | Morelia | 19 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 35 | 23 | +12 | 32 | Directly qualified to the Liguilla (Playoffs) |
| 5 | UAG | 19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 26 | 29 | −3 | 29 | Directly qualified to the Liguilla (Playoffs) |

#### Playoffs
##### Quarterfinals
##### Final
### Torneo Clausura
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 3 | Monterrey | 19 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 31 | 22 | +9 | 34 | Directly qualified to the Liguilla (Playoffs) |
| 4 | UANL | 19 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 25 | 22 | +3 | 34 | Directly qualified to the Liguilla (Playoffs) |
| 5 | Toluca | 19 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 40 | 30 | +10 | 33 | Directly qualified to the Liguilla (Playoffs) |
| 6 | Atlas | 19 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 29 | 20 | +9 | 32 | Directly qualified to the Liguilla (Playoffs) |
| 7 | Veracruz | 19 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 23 | 18 | +5 | 32 | Directly qualified to the Liguilla (Playoffs) |

#### Playoffs
##### Quarterfinals
### CONCACAF Champions' Cup
#### Knockout phase
##### Semifinals

Final to be played on the next season.

## Statistics
### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos. | Player | Total | Total | Apertura | Apertura | Clausura | Clausura | Champions' Cup | Champions' Cup |
| No. | Pos. | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | Hernán Cristante | 37 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Maximiliano Cuberas | 48 | 1 | 25 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | Hassan Viades | 23 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 5 | MF | Israel López | 48 | 3 | 25 | 2 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | Octavio Valdez | 48 | 4 | 25 | 0 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 7 | DF | Salvador Carmona | 45 | 4 | 25 | 3 | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Rafael García | 51 | 7 | 25 | 6 | 21 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | José Cardozo | 46 | 59 | 25 | 36 | 20 | 22 | 1 | 1 |
| 10 | MF | Sinha | 49 | 10 | 25 | 7 | 21 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 11 | FW | Vicente Sánchez | 40 | 19 | 20 | 8 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 3 |
| 12 | GK | César Lozano | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | Ariel Franco | 25 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
| 16 | DF | Miguel Almazán | 8 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 18 | DF | José Manuel Cruzalta | 34 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | Sergio Amaury Ponce | 29 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | José Armando Núñez | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | Erik Espinosa | 48 | 2 | 25 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 25 | DF | Edgar García | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| 28 | FW | Édgar González | 36 | 5 | 15 | 3 | 17 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| 30 | GK | Mario Albarrán | 10 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 37 | MF | Josué Castillejos | 12 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 64 | MF | Diego de la Torre | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 68 | FW | Emmanuel Ruiz | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| ? | DF | Octavio Mira | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| ? | MF | Isaac Moreno | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| ? | MF | Armando Palomino | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| ? | DF | José Luis Rodríguez | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Players that left the club during the season |||||||||||
| 2 | DF | Christian Ramírez | 16 | 0 | 16 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| 15 | FW | Uzziel Lozano | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | – | – | – |

### Goalscorers

| Rank | Pos. | Player | Apertura | Clausura | Champions' Cup | Total |
| 1 | FW | José Cardozo | 36 | 22 | 1 | 59 |
| 2 | FW | Vicente Sánchez | 8 | 8 | 3 | 19 |
| 3 | MF | Sinha | 7 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
| 4 | MF | Rafael García | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| 5 | FW | Édgar González | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 6 | DF | Salvador Carmona | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | MF | Octavio Valdez | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 | MF | Israel López | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | DF | Ariel Franco | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 8 | DF | Edgar García | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 11 | MF | Erik Espinosa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 11 | FW | Emmanuel Ruiz | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 13 | DF | Miguel Almazán | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 13 | DF | José Manuel Cruzalta | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | DF | Maximiliano Cuberas | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | DF | Christian Ramírez | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | Total | Total | 70 | 43 | 15 | 128 |

### Hat-tricks

| Player | Against | Result | Date | Competition |
| José Cardozo | Necaxa | 3–0 (H) | 3 August 2002 | Primera División |
| José Cardozo | Puebla | 5–0 (H) | 14 September 2002 | Primera División |
| José Cardozo | Chiapas | 5–1 (H) | 12 October 2002 | Primera División |
| Vicente Sánchez | UAG | 6–0 (H) | 19 October 2002 | Primera División |
| José Cardozo | Pachuca | 5–1 (H) | 2 November 2002 | Primera División |
| Vicente Sánchez | UNAM | 5–1 (A) | 1 February 2003 | Primera División |
| Vicente Sánchez | Guadalajara | 3–2 (H) | 3 May 2003 | Primera División |
| José Cardozo | Santos Laguna | 4–3 (H) | 17 May 2003 | Primera División |

### Own goals

| Player | Against | Result | Date | Competition |
| Erik Espinosa | UNAM | 4–1 (A) | 25 August 2002 | Primera División |