The 2002-03 campaign delivered ultimate triumph for Auxerre, as L'AJA clinched the Coupe de France trophy, defeating Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 in a dramatic final thanks to late goals from Djibril Cissé and Jean-Alain Boumsong. Under the legendary management of Guy Roux, the team also secured a competitive 6th-place finish in the newly renamed Ligue 1, qualifying them for the UEFA Cup and finishing level on points with 4th place. Spearheading the attack was the electric young striker Djibril Cissé, whose 14 league goals (21 overall) were a critical factor in a year that also saw the club test itself in the Champions League and reach the UEFA Cup Fourth Round, marking a high point in AJA's storied history.