The 2002-03 campaign delivered a season of soaring hope and eventual disappointment for Middlesbrough, with The Boro ultimately finishing 11th in the Premier League despite a start that briefly saw them surge to third place. Leading the charge was the club record signing, Italian forward Massimo Maccarone, whose 9 league goals included a memorable double on his home debut against Fulham. Despite the exciting arrivals of Maccarone, Geremi, and George Boateng, the season faded following a mid-term slump, leaving fans with a sense of 'what if' despite the flashes of brilliance, most notably a famous 3-1 Boxing Day victory over eventual champions Manchester United.