Over the past week we have been asking our contributors here at TheFA.com to make their personal awards for the season just gone. Here is who and what TheFA.com's James Wright will remember from the 2002-2003 season...

TheFA.com's Football Awards 2002/03

Goal - Robert Pires (Arsenal v Southampton) 

A week before The FA Cup Final, two weakened sides played each other with the emphasis being on not picking up any injuries ahead of the Cardiff showpiece. Of Arsenal's 6 strikes, Robert Pires scored one remarkable goal, lobbing the 'keeper from 45 yards. Amazing skill from a player who is simply a joy to watch.

Save - Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus) and Dida (Milan) 

Few 0-0 draws are as entertaining as this year's Champions League Final between Juve and Milan. After 120 minutes of action, the biggest prize in European football was decided on penalties and the two keepers - Buffon and Dida - saved five of the ten kicks, including four in a row, to give the Final the bit of drama it was needed. Both had also made impressive saves during the match to take the game to the lottery finish.

Hat-trick - Ronaldo (Real Madrid v Manchester Utd) 

 

Lots of contenders for this one, including Michael Owen and Paul Scholes, but Ronaldo showed just why he is the World Player of the Year with a scintillating performance at Old Trafford which both ended United's hopes of winning the Champions League and earned him a standing ovation when he was substituted late in the match.

 

 

Miss - Vladimir Janocko (Slovakia)

England v Sovakia, June 2003. In a crucial Euro 2004 qualifier, England found themselves a goal down to a freak free kick midway through the first half. On the ropes, Sven's men were allowing Slovakia far too much space down the flanks and eventually they carved open the perfect opportunity, which fell for Janocko, who just had to beat David James to put the visitors two up and in complete control of the match. Thankfully he shot wide and England, inspired by Steven Gerrard, came back in the second half to win the game.

Performance - Juventus (v Real Madrid)

 

After Real had given Manchester United something of a footballing lesson in their quarter-final, the Spanish team were hotter than hot favourites to lift the giant trophy for a tenth time. However, Juve put in not one but two performances of admirable fortitude, especially in beating Real 3-1 in Turin. Alessio Tacchinardi's ball over the top of the static Real defence for Pavel Nedved to run through and score will live long in the memory...


Managers



Premiership - Gordon Strachan (Southampton)

 

When Gordon Strachan became the new Saints manager after Stuart Gray's departure in October 2001, more than a few Saints fans were stratching their proverbial heads. However, having taken Southampton to eighth place in the Premiership and The FA Cup Final, all such reservations have been dispelled.

 

 

Nationwide - Dave Jones (Wolverhampton Wdrs)

 

What a comeback! Having left Southampton under the worst of circumstances, Jones took over at Molineux in January 2001 and looked set to not only get promoted but actually win the League with Wolves that very same season. Wolves fell away though, finished third and then failed in the playoffs. All that is forgotten now, with Wolves coming through the playoffs, beating Sheffield United 3-0 in the Final.


European - Carlo Ancelotti (AC Milan)

 

Ancelotti's rossoneri may have missed out on the Italian Championship to fierce rivals Juventus but they more than made up for it by beating the Turin side in the Champions League Final in Manchester. Having only scraped past Ajax in the quarters, Milan beat Inter before taking on Lippi's match-favourites, beating them on penalties after a 0-0 draw. Brought in to replace Fatih Terim midway through 2001/02, Ancelotti, a winner of this competition as a player in 1989 and 1990, became only the second man to lift Europe's premier club competition as both a player and a coach with the same team. Not bad for your first full season in charge.

 

One to Watch - Alan Pardew (Reading)

 

Since taking over Reading in October 1999, Alan Pardew has put together a wonderful footballing side at the Madejski Stadium, taking the Royals to the Play Off semi-finals where they were edged out by Wolves. Look out for Pardew to bounce back, though, and launch another effort at promotion next term.

 

 

Unluckiest - Vicente del Bosque (ex-Real Madrid)

Two Spanish championships, two European Cups, one European Super Cup and a World Club Cup might sound like an impressive haul for under four seasons work but it wasn't enough for the powers that be at the Bernabeu as Real manager Vicente del Bosque lost his job this summer.

 

 

Players

Premiership - James Beattie (Southampton)

 

What a wonderful season the Lancaster-born 25-year-old has had. Competing with van Nistelrooy and Henry for the golden boot, he just missed out but one can't help thinking how many goals he'd score were he to play for one of those so-called bigger sides. Deserved his call-up to Sven's England squad and played against both Australia and Serbia & Montenegro.

 

Nationwide - Paul Merson (Portsmouth)

 

Despite persistent personal problems, Merson has been an inspirational leader for Portsmouth this season, guiding the South Coast club back to the top flight of English football for the first time since 1987/88. Merson, now 35-years-old, played in all but one of Pompey's 46 league fixtures, scoring 12 times.

 

 

European - Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid)

 

A surprising choice maybe, but for all the praise that Pavel Nedved and others have received, none can match the week-in week-out brilliance of the Real no. 5. Rarely can the word genius be applied to footballers, but Zidane consistently places himself on a different level to others when on the pitch - gliding serenly across the park, dazzling opponents with his sublime skill and moving with a gracefulness that leaves you feeling spellbound.

 

Goalkeeper - Carlo Cudicini (Chelsea)

 

Like everyone else, I saw this as a straight dogfight between Cudicini and Blackburn's American 'keeper, Brad Friedel. In the end I went for Cudicini due to the fact that Chelsea pipped Liverpool to the fourth Champions League place - an achievement which would not have been possible without Cudicini's heroics.

 

 

Unluckiest - Chris Kirkland (Liverpool)

 

Liverpool's young England Under 21 international came rushing out to thwart Dele Adebola in the Reds' FA Cup clash with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. In good form and having displaced Dudek in Houllier's line-up, Kirkland was all set for a call up into Sven's senior squad only to suffer a freak injury to his leg, putting himself out for the rest of the season. Here's hoping he makes a full and speedy recovery...

 

More to come - Shola Ameobi

 

Not more-to-come in a negative sense but rather that next season is one in which Shola Ameobi must deliver and display some more of his undoubted potential. Has really impressed this term, especially in the Champions League, but could go even further next season and establish himself as Sir Bobby Robson's choice as Alan Shearer's strike partner.

 

Newcomer - John O'Shea (Man Utd)

 

A rare commodity, O'Shea can play in any position at the back and could even be used by United in a further forward midfield position. When one considers how much Sir Alex paid out to Leeds for Rio Ferdinand, to have O'Shea come through the youth ranks and cope so well must seem like a dream come true.

 

 

Best Game - Real Madrid 3, 3 v Manchester United 1, 4

 

Both games showed just what football can be like when played by two teams playing at their maximum capacity. Real were never in trouble in the match but the joy of the tie was the amount of skill that was displayed by the likes of Zidane, Ronaldo, van Nistelrooy, Beckham, Scholes and Raul. Let's hope that one day they meet in the final.

 

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