The 2001-02 campaign was a chaotic but vital season for Portsmouth as Pompey navigated a tense relegation battle in the First Division, ultimately finishing a nervous 17th, just four points clear of the drop. The club's survival was due almost entirely to the sensational form of the young striker Peter Crouch, whose 18 league goals proved decisive, complemented by the unforgettable creative genius of veteran Croatian midfielder Robert Prosinečki. Despite a mid-season slump and a humiliating FA Cup exit that saw Harry Redknapp take over from Graham Rix, the season remains a pivotal chapter in Pompey's modern history, culminating in Crouch's £5 million sale, a crucial injection of funds that would finance the successful promotion push the following year.