The 2002-03 campaign delivered a season of thrilling European drama and domestic glory for Newcastle United, as The Magpies, under the legendary Sir Bobby Robson, clinched a spectacular 3rd-place finish in the Premier League, securing a coveted Champions League qualification spot. Leading the charge was the talismanic captain Alan Shearer, whose 17 league goals (25 in all competitions) anchored the attack. The season is immortalized by an astonishing Champions League run where they recovered from losing their first three group games to famously beat Juventus 1-0 and advance to the daunting Second Group Stage, a chapter of pure grit and excitement that cemented the team's status as a formidable force.