2002–03 Barcelona Away Shirt – Authentication Guide
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Shirt Overview
Team: FC Barcelona
Season: 2002–03
Type: Away
Manufacturer: Nike
Primary Colour: Navy Blue with red and blue diagonal sash
Notable Match: Copa del Rey and early La Liga fixtures in 2002–03
Notable Players: Xavi, Kluivert, Puyol, Overmars, Riquelme
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Key Authentication Features
Nike Swoosh: Embroidered yellow swoosh on right chest.
Sash Detail: Red and blue sash stitched into the shirt diagonally from left shoulder to lower right hem. The edge where the two colours meet should be sharp.
Crest: Barcelona crest is sewn over the sash on the left chest. The crest has a distinctive bright yellow edge and clean inner detailing.
Collar: Navy polo-style collar with red and blue trim.
Inner Label: Includes a size tag and Nike logo with care info and product code. ‘Made in Morocco’ is common.
Material: Early 2000s Nike lightweight polyester, non-clingy with light ventilation.
Back: Entirely navy blue with no design detailing. No name/number unless match-issued.
Sleeves: No sponsor or patch unless match-worn.
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Player Info
FC Barcelona 2002–03 Squad
| Player | Position |
|---|---|
| Víctor Valdés | Goalkeeper |
| Roberto Bonano | Goalkeeper |
| Carles Puyol | Defender |
| Frank de Boer | Defender |
| Michael Reiziger | Defender |
| Gabri | Midfielder |
| Phillip Cocu | Midfielder |
| Xavi Hernández | Midfielder |
| Juan Román Riquelme | Attacking Midfielder |
| Patrick Kluivert | Forward |
| Javier Saviola | Forward |
| Marc Overmars | Winger |
| Luis Enrique | Midfielder/Forward |
| Coach: Louis van Gaal |
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Season Summary
A poor season for Barcelona saw them finish sixth in La Liga. Despite strong individual performances from Kluivert and Xavi, inconsistency plagued the team. This stylish sash shirt became more popular with collectors than fans at the time.
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Final Notes
Beware of fakes with printed sashes instead of sewn panels. Authentic shirts have sharp stitched colour transitions and a high-quality crest.
This post is part of Shirtchecker.com’s mission to help collectors visually authenticate shirts and avoid buying fakes.
