The 2002-03 campaign for Tottenham Hotspur, under the guidance of manager Glenn Hoddle, was considered a major disappointment, ultimately finishing in a mid-table 10th place and exiting both domestic cups in the third round. However, the season was defined by the arrival of the sensational new £7 million striker Robbie Keane, whose 13 Premier League goals announced his arrival as the club's new star, matching the legendary Teddy Sheringham's total in his final season. It was an inconsistent year that began with Spurs briefly topping the league after four matches, but it remains a significant, yet frustrating, chapter that marked the end of one era and the beginning of Keane's long and memorable career at White Hart Lane.