User:Huligan0/2003–04 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 Clubs 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.

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 clubs history this was thier 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 But in the other direction Hakan Yakin left the club and transfered to Paris Saint-Germain.

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.

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. Thier 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 clubs 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 draw 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.

Uhrencup
The Uhrencup is a club football tournament, held annually in Grenchen.

Swiss Super League 2003–04
For more information, see Swiss Super League 2003–04

First half of season
The Swiss Super League season 2003–04 was contested by ten teams.

Swiss Cup 2003–04
For more information, see Swiss Cup 2003–04

UEFA Cup
For more information, see 2003–04 UEFA Cup

First round
Aggregate: 3-2 / Basel win on silver goal

Second round
Aggregate: Newcastle win 4-2 on aggregate