During the 2002–03 English football season, Derby County competed in the Football League First Division, following relegation from the FA Premier League the previous season.
Season summary
Derby were expected to make a bid for an immediate return to the Premiership, but struggled all season which resulted in manager John Gregory being sacked in March and replaced by former Ipswich Town manager George Burley, who led the team to a secure but disappointing 18th-place finish.
Kit
Derby retained the previous season's home kit, manufactured by Italian company Erreà and sponsored by Pedigree.
Final league table
Results
Derby County's score comes first
Legend
Football League First Division
FA Cup
League Cup
Players
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.
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.
Transfers
In
- Paul Ritchie – Manchester City, loan
- Tommy Mooney – Birmingham City, 19 March, loan
- Nick Chadwick – Everton, loan
Out
- Darryl Powell – released (later joined Birmingham City on 12 September)
- Brian O'Neil – released, 27 November (later joined Preston North End)
- Fiachra McArdle – released, 27 November
- Deon Burton – Portsmouth, 11 December, £250,000
- Mart Poom – Sunderland, 10 January, £2,500,000
- Chris Riggott and Malcolm Christie– Middlesbrough, 31 January, £3,000,000 combined
- Danny Higginbotham – Southampton, 31 January, £1,500,000
- Bjørn Otto Bragstad – released (later joined SW Bregenz)
- Horacio Carbonari – released (later joined Rosario Central)
Loan out
- Deon Burton – Portsmouth, 9 August
- François Grenet – Rennes, 29 August
- Mart Poom – Sunderland, 15 November
- Marvin Robinson – Tranmere Rovers, 29 November
References
Notes
