The 2002-03 campaign proved to be a turbulent season of dashed Champions League hopes for Schalke as Die Knappen finished 7th in the Bundesliga, barely securing a spot in the UEFA Intertoto Cup. The year was defined by managerial instability, with Frank Neubarth sacked and replaced by player-captain Marc Wilmots, and a frustrating lack of league goals, as top scorer Victor Agali could only manage 7. Die Knappen did navigate two rounds of the UEFA Cup before a disappointing Third Round exit to Wisła Kraków, marking a transitional chapter that showcased the enduring fighting spirit of the squad but ultimately fell short of the club's lofty expectations.