# 2002–03 Athletic Bilbao season

The 2002–03 season was the 102nd season in Athletic Bilbao's history and their 72nd consecutive season in La Liga, the top division of Spanish football.

## Season summary

In Jupp Heynckes's second season in charge, Athletic Bilbao made a slight improvement in the league, climbing from ninth to seventh place, their highest placing since finishing as runners-up in 1997–98. They were eliminated from the Copa del Rey at the last 32 stage by Basque rivals Real Unión, who were ranked two divisions below Athletic, in Segunda División B.
Heynckes departed at the end of the season to take up the manager's role at Schalke 04 in his native Germany. He was replaced by former Bilbao player Ernesto Valverde, who was promoted from coaching the B team.

## Squad statistics
### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | La Liga | La Liga | Copa del Rey | Copa del Rey |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | ESP | Iñaki Lafuente | 13 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | ESP | Iñigo Larrainzar | 7 | 0 | 3+2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ESP | Aitor Larrazábal | 22 | 2 | 16+5 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | ESP | Aitor Karanka | 25 | 2 | 21+3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ESP | Carlos García | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | ESP | Josu Urrutia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ESP | Óscar Vales | 25 | 0 | 18+6 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ESP | Julen Guerrero | 16 | 2 | 3+11 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 9 | FW | ESP | Santi Ezquerro | 37 | 10 | 28+7 | 10 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | ESP | Francisco Yeste | 29 | 6 | 22+6 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | ESP | Javi González | 32 | 0 | 29+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | ESP | Jesús María Lacruz | 23 | 0 | 21+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | ESP | Dani Aranzubia | 27 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | ESP | Luis Prieto | 18 | 0 | 14+3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | ESP | Felipe Guréndez | 6 | 0 | 0+6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | ESP | Pablo Orbaiz | 6 | 0 | 3+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | ESP | Joseba Etxeberria | 33 | 14 | 32+1 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | ESP | Bittor Alkiza | 32 | 1 | 28+3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 19 | DF | ESP | Asier del Horno | 25 | 4 | 22+2 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | ESP | Ismael Urzaiz | 33 | 14 | 29+2 | 13 | 1+1 | 1 |
| 21 | DF | ESP | Ander Murillo | 18 | 0 | 14+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | ESP | Aitor Ocio | 20 | 1 | 12+7 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | ESP | Tiko | 33 | 2 | 18+14 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | ESP | César | 10 | 0 | 8+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | ESP | Carlos Merino | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | ESP | Carlos Gurpegui | 28 | 4 | 26+1 | 4 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 29 | FW | ESP | Joseba Arriaga | 30 | 1 | 13+15 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 30 | FW | ESP | Aritz Aduriz | 4 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 31 | GK | ESP | Miguel Escalona | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 48 | MF | ESP | Igor Angulo | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## Results
### La Liga
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 5 | Valencia | 38 | 17 | 9 | 12 | 56 | 35 | +21 | 60 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 6 | Barcelona | 38 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 63 | 47 | +16 | 56 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 7 | Athletic Bilbao | 38 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 63 | 61 | +2 | 55 | |
| 8 | Real Betis | 38 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 56 | 53 | +3 | 54 | |
| 9 | Mallorca | 38 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 49 | 56 | −7 | 52 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
* ↑ Mallorca entered UEFA Cup as winners of 2002–03 Copa del Rey