The 2001-02 campaign delivered a season of mid-table consolidation for Cagliari as Casteddu secured a 13th-place finish in Serie B. Leading the attack and beginning his ascent was the emerging striker David Suazo, whose vital 9 goals proved crucial in a transitional year for the club. This season was an important chapter in the Honduran's development, where he began to earn the famous nickname 'La Pantera' (The Panther) that would define his future heroics on the island of Sardinia.