# 2002–03 Aberdeen F.C. season

The 2002–03 season was Aberdeen's 90th season in the top flight of Scottish football. Aberdeen competed in the Scottish Premier League, Scottish League Cup, Scottish Cup and UEFA Cup.

## Scottish Premier League

| Round | Date | Opponent | H/A | Score | Aberdeen Scorer(s) | Attendance | Report |
| 1 | 3 August | Hibernian | A | 2–1 | Mackie, Clark | 13,340 | AFC Heritage |
| 2 | 10 August | Celtic | H | 0–4 | | 17,284 | AFC Heritage |
| 3 | 18 August | Heart of Midlothian | H | 1–1 | D'Jaffo | 12,825 | AFC Heritage |
| 4 | 25 August | Rangers | A | 0–2 | | 42,219 | AFC Heritage |
| 5 | 1 September | Partick Thistle | H | 0–1 | | 12,591 | AFC Heritage |
| 6 | 11 September | Dundee United | H | 1–2 | Mackie | 10,724 | AFC Heritage |
| 7 | 14 September | Kilmarnock | A | 2–2 | D'Jaffo, Darren Young | 6,538 | AFC Heritage |
| 8 | 22 September | Livingston | A | 2–1 | Anderson, McNaughton | 7,513 | AFC Heritage |
| 9 | 28 September | Dunfermline Athletic | H | 3–1 | Billio, D'Jaffo, Derek Young | 11,678 | AFC Heritage |
| 10 | 5 October | Motherwell | A | 2–1 | Derek Young, Deloumeaux | 6,104 | AFC Heritage |
| 11 | 19 October | Dundee | H | 0–0 | | 14,003 | AFC Heritage |
| 12 | 27 October | Hibernian | H | 0–1 | | 12,321 | AFC Heritage |
| 13 | 3 November | Celtic | A | 0–7 | | 58,526 | AFC Heritage |
| 14 | 9 November | Heart of Midlothian | A | 0–0 | | 11,920 | AFC Heritage |
| 15 | 16 November | Rangers | H | 2–2 | Mike, Mackie | 14,915 | AFC Heritage |
| 16 | 23 November | Partick Thistle | A | 1–2 | Mike | 6,182 | AFC Heritage |
| 17 | 30 November | Dundee United | A | 1–1 | McGuire | 8,261 | AFC Heritage |
| 18 | 3 December | Kilmarnock | H | 0–1 | | 8,816 | AFC Heritage |
| 19 | 7 December | Motherwell | H | 1–1 | Derek Young | 9,569 | AFC Heritage |
| 20 | 15 December | Dunfermline Athletic | A | 0–3 | | 4,835 | AFC Heritage |
| 21 | 21 December | Livingston | H | 0–0 | | 11,253 | AFC Heritage |
| 22 | 26 December | Dundee | A | 2–1 | McGuire, Smith | 8,574 | AFC Heritage |
| 23 | 29 December | Hibernian | A | 0–2 | | 11,604 | AFC Heritage |
| 24 | 2 January | Celtic | H | 1–1 | Anderson | 16,331 | AFC Heritage |
| 25 | 28 January | Heart of Midlothian | H | 0–1 | | 9,322 | AFC Heritage |
| 26 | 1 February | Rangers | A | 1–2 | Tosh | 49,667 | AFC Heritage |
| 27 | 8 February | Partick Thistle | H | 0–1 | | 11,334 | AFC Heritage |
| 28 | 16 February | Dundee United | H | 3–0 | Sheerin (2), McGuire | 9,146 | AFC Heritage |
| 29 | 1 March | Kilmarnock | A | 0–2 | | 5,769 | AFC Heritage |
| 30 | 8 March | Motherwell | A | 1–0 | Sheerin | 5,636 | AFC Heritage |
| 31 | 15 March | Dundee | H | 3–3 | Sheerin (2), McGuire | 12,119 | AFC Heritage |
| 32 | 5 April | Livingston | A | 2–1 | Derek Young, Sheerin | 5,731 | AFC Heritage |
| 33 | 12 April | Dunfermline Athletic | H | 1–0 | Sheerin | 10,030 | AFC Heritage |
| 34 | 26 April | Livingston | H | 1–0 | Hinds | 8,912 | AFC Heritage |
| 35 | 3 May | Hibernian | A | 1–3 | Tiernan | 7,904 | AFC Heritage |
| 36 | 10 May | Partick Thistle | H | 2–1 | Hinds, McGuire | 9,960 | AFC Heritage |
| 37 | 17 May | Motherwell | A | 3–2 | Hinds, Deloumeaux, Sheerin | 4,731 | AFC Heritage |
| 38 | 24 May | Dundee United | A | 2–0 | Mackie, Tosh | 8,516 | AFC Heritage |

### Final standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 6 | Dundee | 38 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 50 | 60 | −10 | 44 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 7 | Hibernian | 38 | 15 | 6 | 17 | 56 | 64 | −8 | 51 | |
| 8 | Aberdeen | 38 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 41 | 54 | −13 | 49 | |
| 9 | Livingston | 38 | 9 | 8 | 21 | 48 | 62 | −14 | 35 | |
| 10 | Partick Thistle | 38 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 37 | 58 | −21 | 35 | |
* ↑ Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six) for the last five matches.
* ↑ As Rangers, the 2002–03 Scottish Cup winners, qualified for the UEFA Champions League via their league position, the place in the UEFA Cup was passed onto Dundee, the cup runners-up

## Scottish League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | H/A | Score | Aberdeen Scorer(s) | Attendance | Report |
| R3 | 6 November | Motherwell | H | 3–1 | Mike, Deloumeaux, Michie | 6,557 | AFC Heritage |
| QF | 12 November | Heart of Midlothian | H | 0–1 | | 7,576 | AFC Heritage |

## Scottish Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | H/A | Score | Aberdeen Scorer(s) | Attendance | Report |
| R3 | 25 January | Queen of the South | A | 0–0 | | 5,716 | AFC Heritage |
| R3R | 18 February | Queen of the South | H | 4–1 | D'Jaffo (2), Derek Young, Anderson | 6,068 | AFC Heritage |
| R4 | 22 February | Dundee | A | 0–2 | | 7,549 | AFC Heritage |

## UEFA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | H/A | Score | Aberdeen Scorer(s) | Attendance | Report |
| PR2 L1 | 15 August | Nistru Otaci | H | 1–0 | Mackie | 9,894 | AFC Heritage |
| PR2 L2 | 29 August | Nistru Otaci | A | 0–0 | | 4,000 | AFC Heritage |
| R1 L1 | 17 September | Hertha Berlin | H | 0–0 | | 10,180 | AFC Heritage |
| R1 L2 | 1 October | Hertha Berlin | A | 0–1 | | 30,770 | AFC Heritage |

## 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 |
| 1 | GK | DEN | Peter Kjær |
| 2 | DF | SCO | Kevin McNaughton |
| 3 | DF | SCO | Jamie McAllister |
| 4 | MF | SCO | Fergus Tiernan |
| 5 | DF | SCO | Russell Anderson (Captain) |
| 6 | DF | SCO | Phil McGuire |
| 7 | MF | BEL | Roberto Bisconti |
| 8 | MF | SCO | Darren Young (Vice-Captain) |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Leon Mike |
| 10 | MF | SCO | Derek Young |
| 11 | FW | SCO | Darren Mackie |
| 12 | MF | ENG | Ben Thornley |
| 12 | MF | SCO | Steve Tosh |
| 13 | GK | SCO | Mark Peat |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 14 | MF | SCO | Chris Clark |
| 15 | DF | SCO | Kevin Rutkiewicz |
| 16 | MF | EIR | Ross O'Donoghue |
| 18 | DF | FRA | Eric Deloumeaux |
| 19 | FW | BEN | Laurent D'Jaffo |
| 20 | MF | FRA | Nicolas Fabiano |
| 22 | FW | SCO | Scott Michie |
| 23 | GK | SCO | Ryan Esson |
| 24 | DF | SCO | Stephen Payne |
| 25 | MF | ITA | Patrizio Billio |
| 26 | MF | SCO | Paul Sheerin |
| 27 | DF | SCO | Michael Hart |
| 28 | FW | ENG | Leigh Hinds |

### Appearances & Goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | SPL | SPL | Scottish Cup | Scottish Cup | League Cup | League Cup | UEFA Cup | UEFA Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | DEN | Peter Kjær | 29 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | SCO | Kevin McNaughton | 26 | 1 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | SCO | Jamie McAllister | 38 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | SCO | Fergus Tiernan | 24 | 1 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | SCO | Russell Anderson (c) | 42 | 3 | 33 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | SCO | Phil McGuire | 45 | 5 | 36 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | BEL | Roberto Bisconti | 17 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | SCO | Darren Young | 30 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Leon Mike | 30 | 3 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | SCO | Derek Young | 38 | 5 | 29 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | SCO | Darren Mackie | 36 | 5 | 30 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 12 | MF | ENG | Ben Thornley | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | MF | SCO | Steve Tosh | 17 | 2 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | SCO | Mark Peat | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | SCO | Chris Clark | 30 | 1 | 25 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | SCO | Kevin Rutkiewicz | 25 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | SCO | Ross O'Donoghue | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | DF | FRA | Éric Deloumeaux | 40 | 3 | 32 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | FRA | Laurent D'Jaffo | 25 | 5 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | FRA | Nicolas Fabiano | 17 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | SCO | Scott Michie | 24 | 1 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 23 | GK | SCO | Ryan Esson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | SCO | Stephen Payne | 10 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | ITA | Patrizio Billio | 12 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | SCO | Paul Sheerin | 17 | 8 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | DF | SCO | Michael Hart | 9 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | FW | ENG | Leigh Hinds | 12 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | GK | ENG | David Preece | 19 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | SCO | Richard Foster | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | SCO | Scott Morrison | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | SCO | Scott Muirhead | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | SCO | Zander Diamond | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | SCO | Craig Higgins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | SCO | Kevin Souter | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |