During summer several players left the club included fan favourite midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme transferred out to FC Barcelona.
Macri reinforced the squad with midfielder Raul Alfredo Cascini[1] from Toulouse FC and on loan from FC Porto right back defender Hugo Ibarra.
In the Apertura Tournament the team finished on 2nd spot, three points below of Champions Independiente. Meanwhile, in the inaugural season of 2002 Copa Sudamericana the squad was eliminated by Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata in Eightfinals stage.
Head coach Carlos Bianchi was appointed on 23 December 2002 after rumors of taking jobs of FC Barcelona and Mexican National Team .[2]
For Apertura, along with Bianchi, Macri reinforced the team with a few players included midfielders Diego Cagna from Atletico Celaya,[3]Javier Alejandro Villarreal the squad finished runners-up again, two points below of Champions River Plate.
The season is best remembered by the victory in 2003 Copa Libertadores the squad reached the Finals stage and won the trophy defeating Brazilian side Santos FC with a 5-1 global score after two matches.[4]
Squad[]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.