2003–04 FC Basel season
The 2003–04 season was Fussball Club Basel 1893's 111th in existence and the club's 10th consecutive season in the top flight of Swiss football. The Club's main aims for the 2003–04 season were to regain the league title and, as cup holders, to retain their cup title. The third aim was to remain in the UEFA Cup as long as possible. During pre-season Basel won the Uhrencup and the Alpen Cup. After being the surprise package in Europe in the 2002–03 season, Basel could not bring this form into the UEFA Cup in 2003–04 as they were eliminated by Newcastle United in the second round after defeating Malatyaspor in the previous round.
2003–04 season | |
---|---|
Chairman | |
Manager | |
Swiss Super League | Champions |
Swiss Cup | Round 3 |
UEFA Cup | Round 2 |
Top goalscorer | Christian Giménez (16) |
Highest home attendance | 30,800 vs (23.11.2003) 30,000 vs (6.11.2003) |
Lowest home attendance | 21,803 vs (28.04.2004) |
The Super League season started impeccably, Basel won the first thirteen matches straight off. They completed the first half of the season undefeated, with seventeen wins and one draw. Basel remained in top position right up until the end of the season, thus achieving their championship aim. In the club's history this was their tenth championship title.
Overview
Despite the fact that Grasshopper Club Zürich were the reigning Swiss champions, Basel were favourites to win the domestic championship title. As runners-up of the previous Nationalliga A season, Basel entered the UEFA Cup in first round. Basel's biggest signing in advance of the 2003–04 season was Matías Emilio Delgado from Chacarita Juniors[1] But in the other direction Hakan Yakin left the club and transferred to Paris Saint-Germain.[2]
FC Basel started the season of with various warm-up matches. These included teams from the Swiss lower league as well as teams from the German Bundesliga, the French Ligue 1 and the Romanian Liga I. The season began on 16 July 2003 with the home game against Zürich and the 2003–04 UEFA Cup began on 24 September 2003.
Before the winter break Hakan Yakin returned to the club from Paris Saint-Germain and during the winter break they signed Francisco Gabriel Guerrero on loan from FC Zürich.
The Campaign
Domestic League
Basel's priority aim for the season was to win the league championship. The season started impeccably, Basel won the first thirteen matches and moved to the top of the league table from the first round. They completed the first half of the season undefeated, with seventeen wins and one draw.
Basel completed the seasons eighteen home ties undefeated, winning fourteen and drawing four. Their biggest home wins were to 6-0 wins against Servette and Neuchâtel Xamax. Four home games were reported as sold out, the highest attendance being 30,800 spectators on 23 November 2003 in their highest scoring match of the season, a 5–2 win against Grasshopper.
Basel remained in top position in the table until the end of the season, thus achieving their championship aim. This was the club's tenth championship title.
Domestic Cup
As cup holders, Basel's clear aim for the Swiss Cup was to retain the title. In the first two rounds of the 2003–04 Swiss Cup Basel were drawn away games against lower league teams. Both games were won as expected. In the third round they were drawn away in the Hardturm Stadion against Grasshopper Club Zürich but lost 1-0. Thus Basel were eliminated and missed their domestic cup aim.
Europe
The clubs aim was remain in the UEFA Cup as long as possible. But after being the surprise package in Europe in the 2002–03 season, Basel could not bring this form into the UEFA Cup in 2003–04 and they were eliminated by Newcastle United in the second round after defeating Malatyaspor in the previous round.
Club
The Management
Position | Staff |
---|---|
Manager | |
Assistant manager | |
Fitness Coach | |
Goalkeeper Coach | |
Goalkeeper Coach | |
Team Manager | |
Team Administrator | |
Youth Team Coach U-21 |
Last updated: July 2003
Source: FC Basel Marketing AG (2004). Rotblau: FC Basel 1893, Das Magazin. FC Basel Marketing AG. ISSN 1660-0878.
Other information
Chairman | |
Ground (capacity and dimensions) | St. Jakob-Park (33,433 / 120x80 m) |
Source: Homepage FCB
Players
First team squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Transfers Summer 2003
In
21 | MF | David Degen (from FC Aarau – on loan) [3] | |
— | DF | José Maria Claudino ("Zé Maria") (from Prudentópolis Esporte Clube – on loan) | |
20 | MF | Matías Emilio Delgado (from Chacarita Juniors - n/a) [1] | |
— | MF | Hakan Yakin (return transfer from Paris Saint-Germain) [4] |
Out
— | DF | Philippe Cravero (to Servette – free transfer) | |
— | DF | Bernt Haas (to West Bromwich Albion – end of loan) [5] | |
— | FW | Carlos Varela (to FC Aarau – on loan) [3] | |
— | MF | Hakan Yakin (to Paris Saint-Germain - transfer) [2] | |
— | MF | Ljubo Miličević (to Zürich - end of loan) |
Transfers Winter 2003-04
In
— | FW | Francisco Gabriel Guerrero (from FC Zürich – on loan) [6] |
Results and fixtures
Friendlies
Pre-season/First Half Season friendlies
25 June 2003 Pre-season | Celerina Auswahl | 0 – 8 | San Gian, Celerina | |
Report (in German) | Attendance: 800 |
28 June 2003 Pre-season | Basel | 2 – 0 | Vicques | |
Barberis Chipperfield |
Report (in German) | Attendance: 1,973 |
12 July 2003 Pre-season | Basel | 2 – 1 | Stadion Rankhof, Basel | |
Cantaluppi Rossi |
Report (in German) | Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Florian Etter |
19 July 2003 Friendly | Basel | 2 – 2 | Rheinfelden (Baden) | |
Cantaluppi Giménez |
Report (in German) | Attendance: 1,800 |
5 August 2003 Friendly | Basel | 3 – 1 | Sportplatz Nau, Laufen | |
Rossi Streller Fejzulahi |
Report (in German) | Attendance: 2,400 Referee: Claudio Circhetta |
12 August 2003 Friendly | FC Mulhouse | 1 – 5 | Stade de l'Ill, Mulhouse | |
Coquio |
Report (in German) | Attendance: 180 Referee: Chevrier |
27 August 2003 Friendly | FC Laufen | 0 – 6 | Sportplatz Nau, Laufen | |
Report (in German) | Attendance: 2,100 |
9 September 2003 Friendly | SV Muttenz | 0 – 4 | Sportplatz Margelacker, Muttenz | |
Report (in German) | Attendance: 1,700 Referee: Daniel Wermelinger |
16 Sept. 2003 Friendly | SC Dornach | 0 – 2 | Gigersloch, Dornach | |
Report (in German) | Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Salm |
18 November 2003 Friendly | Basel | 2 – 2 | Stadion Rankhof, Basel | |
Rossi Chipperfield |
Report (in German) | Attendance: 300 Referee: von Känel |
Uhrencup
The Uhrencup is a club football tournament, held annually in Grenchen.
2 July 2003 Semifinal | Basel | 4 – 2 | Stadion Brühl, Grenchen | |
Aslan Rossi Giménez |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 4,118 Referee: Claudio Circhetta |
4 July 2003 Final | Basel | 1 – 0 | Stadion Brühl, Grenchen | |
20:45 | Streller |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 6,681 Referee: Marcus Nobs |
Alpen Cup
7 July 2003 Semifinal | Basel | 3 – 3 (5 – 3 p) | Stadion Rankhof, Basel | |
M. Yakin Huggel Streller |
Report (in German) | Attendance: 6,000 Referee: Jérôme Laperrière | ||
Penalties | ||||
M. Yakin Giménez Chipperfield Smiljanić Esposito |
Winter Break/Second Half Season friendlies
13 January 2004 Winter Break | Baden | 0 – 4 | Barz, Zurzach | |
Report (in German) |
20 January 2004 Winter Break | Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield | 1 – 1 | Villa Olimpica, Liniers, Buenos Aires, | |
? |
Report (in German) |
23 January 2004 Winter Break | Club Atlético Lanús | 0 – 0 | Pinamar | |
Report (in German) |
6 February 2004 Winter Break | Bellinzona | 1 – 3 | Stadio Comunale, Bellinzona | |
Pit |
Report (in German) | Attendance: 800 Referee: Massimo Busacca |
7 February 2004 Winter Break | Lugano | 0 – 1 | Stadio Cornaredo, Lugano | |
Report (in German) | Attendance: 320 Referee: Reto Rutz |
28 April 2004 Friendly | SV Muttenz | 0 – 1 | Sportplatz Margelacker, Muttenz | |
Report (in German) | Attendance: 1,645 Referee: Claudio Chirchetta |
2003–04 Swiss Super League
First half of season
The Swiss Super League season was contested by ten teams.
16 July 2003 Round 1 | Basel | 2 – 1 | Zürich | St. Jakob-Park, Basel |
H. Yakin Esposito Huggel |
Report (in German) | Attendance: 30,561 Referee: Philippe Leuba |
22 July 2003 Round 2 | Young Boys | 2 – 3 | Basel | Stadion Neufeld, Bern |
Leandro Magnin |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 11,850 (sold out) Referee: Massimo Busacca |
26 July 2003 Round 3 | Basel | 4 – 2 | Neuchâtel Xamax | St. Jakob-Park, Basel |
Esposito P. Degen Giménez M. Yakin |
Report (in German) | Attendance: 29,055 Referee: Beck |
2 August 2003 Round 4 | Wil | 2 – 3 | Basel | Stadion Bergholz, Wil |
Lustrinelli Renggli Romano |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 5,600 Referee: Martin Salm |
9 August 2003 Round 5 | Basel | 3 – 1 | Aarau | St. Jakob-Park, Basel |
Atouba M. Yakin Rossi Huggel |
Report (in German) | Attendance: 24,430 Referee: Guido Wildhaber |
16 August 2003 Round 6 | Thun | 0 – 4 | Basel | Stadion Lachen, Thun |
Report (in German) | Attendance: 8,150 Referee: Urs Meier |
24 August 2003 Round 7 | Basel | 6 – 0 | Servette | St. Jakob-Park, Basel |
Streller Huggel Giménez Chipperfield M. Yakin Tum |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 29,821 Referee: Carlo Bertolini |
31 August 2003 Round 8 | Grasshoppers | 0 – 4 | Basel | Hardturm, Zürich |
Spycher |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 17,666 Referee: Marcus Nobs |
3 September 2003 Round 9 | Basel | 4 – 1 | St. Gallen | St. Jakob-Park, Basel |
Cantaluppi P. Degen Huggel M. Yakin Tum Streller |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 29,846 Referee: Guido Wildhaber |
14 September 2003 Round 10 | Zürich | 0 – 1 | Basel | Letzigrund, Zürich |
Petrosyan Gygax |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 18,200 Referee: Beck |
28 September 2003 Round 11 | Basel | 2 – 0 | Young Boys | St. Jakob-Park, Basel |
Streller Rossi Cantaluppi P. Degen D. Degen |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 30,760 (sold out) Referee: René Rogalla |
2 October 2003 Round 12 | Neuchâtel Xamax | 1 – 3 | Basel | Stade de la Maladière, Neuchâtel |
Portillo Forschelet Ojong |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 12,100 Referee: Guido Wildhaber |
5 October 2003 Round 13 | Basel | 4 – 0 | Wil | St. Jakob-Park, Basel |
Streller Huggel P. Degen Zwyssig |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 29,850 Referee: Jérôme Laperrière |
27 October 2003 Round 14 | Aarau | 2 – 2 | Basel | Stadion Brügglifeld, Aarau |
de Napoli Varela |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 9,250 Referee: Philippe Leuba |
29 October 2003 Round 15 | Basel | 2 – 0 | Thun | St. Jakob-Park, Basel |
D. Degen H. Yakin P. Degen |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 29,029 Referee: Reto Rutz |
2 November 2003 Round 16 | Servette | 1 – 2 | Basel | Stade de la Praille, Lancy |
Kader Bah Londono |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 18,800 Referee: Urs Meier |
23 November 2003 Round 17 | Basel | 5 – 2 | Grasshoppers | St. Jakob-Park, Basel |
Cantaluppi Streller Chipperfield Huggel |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 30,800 (sold out) Referee: Beck |
30 November 2003 Round 18 | St. Gallen | 1 – 2 | Basel | Espenmoos, St. Gallen |
Mirenda |
Report (in German) | Attendance: 11,300 (sold out) Referee: Urs Meier |
Second half of season
15 February 2004 Round 19 | Young Boys | 0 – 1 | Basel | Stadion Neufeld, Bern |
Friedli Sadik Sermeter Leandro |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 11,850 (sold out) Referee: Philippe Leuba |
22 February 2004 Round 20 | Basel | 2 – 2 | Grasshoppers | St. Jakob-Park, Basel |
P. Degen Tum |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 26,851 Referee: Massimo Busacca |
28 February 2004 Round 21 | Basel | 6 – 0 | Neuchâtel Xamax | St. Jakob-Park, Basel |
M. Yakin Tum Giménez Guerrero |
Report (in German) | Attendance: 21,803 Referee: René Rogalla |
7 March 2004 Round 22 | St. Gallen | 1 – 1 | Basel | Espenmoos, St. Gallen |
Wolf Naldo |
Report (in German) | Attendance: 9,000 Referee: René Rogalla |
13 March 2004 Round 23 | Basel | 1 – 1 | Thun | St. Jakob-Park, Basel |
Cantaluppi Baykal Rossi Giménez Zanni |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 23,223 Referee: Carlo Bertolini |
17 March 2004 Round 24 | Zürich | 1 – 0 | Basel | Letzigrund, Zürich |
Gygax Chihab Dal Santo Taini |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 16,200 Referee: Nicole Petignat |
20 March 2004 Round 25 | Basel | 3 – 1 | Aarau | St. Jakob-Park, Basel |
Cantaluppi Giménez Rossi |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 26,099 Referee: Guido Wildhaber |
28 March 2004 Round 26 | Wil | 1 – 1 | Basel | Stadion Bergholz, Wil |
Blunschi |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 5,400 Referee: Urs Meier |
4 April 2004 Round 27 | Servette | 1 – 4 | Basel | Stade de la Praille, Lancy |
Bah Zambrella Obradović |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 18,683 Referee: Massimo Busacca |
8 April 2004 Round 28 | Basel | 1 – 0 | Servette | St. Jakob-Park, Basel |
Rossi |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 26,649 Referee: Marcus Nobs |
15 April 2004 Round 29 | Basel | 2 – 0 | Wil | St. Jakob-Park, Basel |
19:30 | Chipperfield Delgado Tum |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 24,515 Referee: Cyril Zimmermann |
18 April 2004 Round 30 | Aarau | 3 – 0 | Basel | Stadion Brügglifeld, Aarau |
Wittl Tcheutchoua Bieli Zuberbühler Opango |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 9,250 (sold out) Referee: Messner |
24 April 2004 Round 31 | Basel | 1 – 1 | Zürich | St. Jakob-Park, Basel |
Smiljanić D. Degen |
Report (in German) | Attendance: 27,842 (sold out) Referee: René Rogalla |
2 May 2004 Round 32 | Thun | 0 – 2 | Basel | Stadion Lachen, Thun |
Deumi Hodžić |
Report (in German) | Attendance: 10,055 (stadium record) Referee: Reto Rutz |
8 May 2004 Round 33 | Basel | 0 – 0 | St. Gallen | St. Jakob-Park, Basel |
Giménez Chipperfield |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 25,403 Referee: Urs Meier |
12 May 2004 Round 34 | Neuchâtel Xamax | 3 – 1 | Basel | Stade de la Maladière, Neuchâtel |
Griffiths Rey Forschelet Portillo M'Futi |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 8,200 Referee: Marcus Nobs |
16 May 2004 Round 35 | Grasshoppers | 0 – 2 | Basel | Hardturm, Zürich |
Mitreski Gane Shala Salatić |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 11,900 Referee: Carlo Bertolini |
22 May 2004 Round 36 | Basel | 2 – 1 | Young Boys | St. Jakob-Park, Basel |
Rossi Cantaluppi Giménez |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 29,541 (sold out) Referee: Philippe Leuba |
Final league table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Basel (C) | 36 | 26 | 7 | 3 | 86 | 32 | +54 | 85 | Qualification to Champions League third qualifying round |
2 | Young Boys | 36 | 22 | 6 | 8 | 75 | 48 | +27 | 72 | Qualification to Champions League second qualifying round |
3 | Servette | 36 | 15 | 7 | 14 | 61 | 62 | −1 | 52 | Qualification to UEFA Cup second qualifying round |
4 | Zürich | 36 | 14 | 8 | 14 | 58 | 52 | +6 | 50 | |
5 | St. Gallen | 36 | 14 | 8 | 14 | 54 | 57 | −3 | 50 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion.
Swiss Cup
19 September 2003 Round 1 | FC Alle | 1–5 | Basel | Centre Sportif Régional, Alle, Switzerland |
Tabriche |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Claudio Circhetta |
19 October 2003 Round 2 | Urania Genève Sport | 1–4 | Basel | Stade des Trois-Chênes, Thônex |
Gabzcyl |
(Report) (in German) | Attendance: 3,259 Referee: Bruno Grossen |
UEFA Cup
First round
24 September 2003 1st Leg | Malatyaspor | 0–2 | Malatya İnönü Stadium, Malatya | |
Akagünduz |
(Report) | Attendance: 10,000 (sold out) Referee: Marian Mircea Salomir (Rom) |
15 October 2003 2nd Leg | Basel | 1–2 | St. Jakob-Park, Basel | |
Huggel Streller |
(Report) | Attendance: 26,663 Referee: Attila Juhos (Hungary) |
Aggregate: 3-2 / Basel win on silver goal
Second round
6 November 2003 1st Leg | Basel | 2–3 | St. Jakob-Park, Basel | |
20:30 | Cantaluppi Chipperfield P. Degen |
(Report) | Attendance: 30,000 (sold out) Referee: Tom Henning Øvrebø, (Norway) |
27 November 2003 2nd Leg | Newcastle United | 1–0 | St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne | |
20:30 | Shearer Smiljanić |
(Report) | Attendance: 45,000 Referee: Knud Erik Fisker (Denmark) |
Aggregate: Newcastle win 4-2 on aggregate
Sources and references
- Rotblau: Jahrbuch Saison 2015/2016. Publisher: FC Basel Marketing AG. ISBN 978-3-7245-2050-4
- Switzerland 2003–04 at RSSSF
- FC Basel 1893 (2003). "Vierjahresvertrag für Matias Delgado" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Archived from the original on 2013-12-25. Retrieved 2003-08-26.
- FC Basel 1893 (2003). "Hakan Yakin wechselt definitiv zu PSG" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Archived from the original on 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2003-07-30.
- FC Basel 1893 (2003). "Varela zu Aarau, D. Degen zu Basel" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Archived from the original on 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2003-07-09.
- FC Basel 1893 (2003). "Hakan Yakin: Neuer Arbeitsvertrag mit FCB" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Archived from the original on 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2003-08-29.
- FC Basel 1893 (2003). "Bernt Haas verlässt den FC Basel" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Archived from the original on 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2003-07-05.
- FC Basel 1893 (2004). "Guerrero leihweise zum FCB" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Archived from the original on 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2004-02-12.
- Si/BaZ (2004). "FC Basel löst Vertrag mit Esposito auf" (in German). BaZ. Archived from the original on 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2004-01-29.