# 2002–03 AFC Ajax season

During the 2002–03 Dutch Football season, AFC Ajax competed in the Eredivisie.

## Season summary

Despite being the top scorers in the Eredivisie, Ajax were unable to defend their title and finished second. They also failed to retain the cup, but compensated by reaching the Champions League quarter-finals before being knocked out by eventual winners A.C. Milan.

## First-team squad

    Squad at end of season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | ROU | Bogdan Lobonț |
| 2 | DF | TUN | Hatem Trabelsi |
| 3 | DF | NOR | André Bergdølmo |
| 4 | DF | CZE | Tomáš Galásek |
| 5 | DF | ROU | Cristian Chivu |
| 7 | MF | NED | Andy van der Meyde |
| 8 | MF | NED | Richard Witschge |
| 9 | FW | SWE | Zlatan Ibrahimović |
| 10 | MF | RSA | Steven Pienaar |
| 12 | DF | NED | John Heitinga |
| 13 | DF | BRA | Maxwell |
| 15 | MF | NED | Wesley Sneijder |
| 16 | DF | FIN | Petri Pasanen |
| 17 | FW | BRA | Wamberto |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 18 | DF | USA | John O'Brien |
| 20 | MF | FIN | Jari Litmanen |
| 21 | GK | AUS | Joey Didulica |
| 22 | MF | GHA | Abubakari Yakubu |
| 23 | MF | NED | Rafael van der Vaart |
| 24 | DF | BEL | Jelle van Damme |
| 25 | MF | CPV | David Mendes da Silva (on loan from Sparta Rotterdam) |
| 26 | MF | NED | Nigel de Jong |
| 27 | FW | NED | Victor Sikora |
| 28 | MF | MAR | Nourdin Boukhari |
| 29 | MF | NED | Jamal Akachar |
| 30 | MF | NED | Stefano Seedorf |
| 31 | GK | NED | Maarten Stekelenburg |
| 32 | GK | NED | Henk Timmer (on loan from AZ) |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 6 | MF | NED | Aron Winter (retired) |
| 11 | FW | EGY | Mido (on loan to Celta Vigo) |
| 14 | MF | NED | Jan van Halst |
| 19 | FW | GRE | Nikos Machlas (on loan to Sevilla) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 15 | DF | NED | Tim de Cler (to AZ) |
| 25 | MF | COL | Daniel Cruz (on loan to Germinal Beerschot) |
| 20 | FW | NED | Cedric van der Gun (on loan to Willem II) |

## Reserve squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | DF | NED | Mitchell Piqué |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |

## Transfers
### Out

* Richard Knopper
* Fred Grim
* Ferdi Vierklau

## Results
### UEFA Champions League
#### First group stage

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | INT | AJX | LYO | ROS |
| 1 | Internazionale | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 8 | +4 | 11 | Advance to second group stage | — | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 |
| 2 | Ajax | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 8 | Advance to second group stage | 1–2 | — | 2–1 | 1–1 |
| 3 | Lyon | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 8 | Transfer to UEFA Cup | 3–3 | 0–2 | — | 5–0 |
| 4 | Rosenborg | 6 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 12 | −8 | 4 | | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | — |

#### Second group stage

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | VAL | AJX | ARS | ROM |
| 1 | Valencia | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage | — | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 |
| 2 | Ajax | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 8 | Advance to knockout stage | 1–1 | — | 0–0 | 2–1 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 7 | | 0–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 |
| 4 | Roma | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 8 | −1 | 5 | | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | — |