The 2001-02 campaign delivered a triumphant Coupe de la Ligue win for Bordeaux as Les Girondins beat Lorient 3-0, fueled by a memorable brace from talisman Pauleta, which included a sublime overhead kick. They secured a 6th-place finish in Division 1, with the prolific Pauleta leading the charge by firing in 22 goals. It was a golden year built on attacking flair and cup glory that marked the final season before the league was rebranded, and remains a defining, successful chapter in the club’s modern history.