See main article: History of Aston Villa F.C. (1961–present).
| Club: | Aston Villa |
| Season: | 2003–04 |
| Chairman: | Doug Ellis |
| Manager: | David O'Leary |
| Stadium: | Villa Park |
| League: | FA Premier League |
| League Result: | 6th |
| Cup1: | FA Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | Third round |
| Cup2: | League Cup |
| Cup2 Result: | Semi-finals |
| League Topscorer: | Juan Pablo Ángel (16) |
| Average Attendance: | 36,621 |
| Leftarm1: | 88A7E0 |
| Body1: | 970045 |
| Rightarm1: | 88A7E0 |
| Shorts1: | FFFFFF |
| Socks1: | 88A7E0 |
| Leftarm2: | FFFF00 |
| Body2: | FFFF00 |
| Rightarm2: | FFFF00 |
| Shorts2: | 000033 |
| Socks2: | 000033 |
| Prevseason: | 2002–03 |
| Nextseason: | 2004–05 |
| League Result: | 46--34--28 |
| Nextseason: | 2004–05 |
During the 2003–04 English football season, Aston Villa competed in the Premier League. Former Leeds United manager David O'Leary was appointed Villa manager in the summer of 2003.
Under O'Leary, Villa made a very sluggish start to the campaign and found themselves in the relegation zone after winning just two of their first 13 league fixtures. They were still in the bottom three in mid-December before O'Leary galvanized them and they gradually climbed the table. Villa had a fantastic second half of the season and, with two matches remaining, had a chance of qualifying for the Champions League. After extending their unbeaten run to eight games by drawing at Southampton, defeat against Manchester United at Villa Park consigned them to sixth place. The Villains finished five points short of a Champions League place and were edged out of a UEFA Cup spot on goal difference by Newcastle United.
Nevertheless, it was still a great achievement by O'Leary, who appeared to get the best out of the likes of Gareth Barry, Lee Hendrie, Jlloyd Samuel and 16-goal Juan Pablo Ángel. The Colombian was the club's leading scorer, while Darius Vassell bagged 9 goals to cement his place in England's Euro 2004 squad. Thomas Sørensen and Gavin McCann both had excellent seasons after moving from Sunderland, while Nolberto Solano quickly became a fans' favourite after his mid-season move from Newcastle.
Among the men to represent Villa for the last time during 2003–04 was Dion Dublin, who netted 48 goals in 155 league games. O'Leary's side reached the last four of the Football League Cup by knocking out Wycombe Wanderers, Leicester City, Crystal Palace and Chelsea. The semi-final first leg, at Bolton, ended in a disappointing 5–2 defeat. Villa Park goals by Thomas Hitzlsperger and Samuel were not quite enough to prevent the Trotters from clinching a place in the final. Manchester United came from behind to knock Villa out of the FA Cup in a third round tie at Villa Park. Despite narrowly missing out on qualifying for Europe, the mood around Villa Park was extremely positive in the summer of 2004. With the likes of Liam Ridgewell, Steven Davis, Peter Whittingham and the Moore brothers (Stefan and Luke) forcing open the first team door, David O'Leary had an abundance of young talent at his disposal.
| Date | Pos | Player | From | Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 July 2003 | £2,250,000 | ||||
| 8 August 2003 | £2,250,000 | ||||
| 29 January 2004 | £1,500,000 | ||||
| £6,000,000 |
| Date | Pos | Player | To | Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 July 2003 | style="text-align:center;" | - | Released | ||
| 1 July 2003 | Free transfer | ||||
| 1 July 2003 | Free transfer | ||||
| 1 July 2003 | Free transfer | ||||
| 1 July 2003 | Free transfer | ||||
| 23 October 2003 | Free transfer | ||||
| 13 December 2003 | £50,000 | ||||
| 23 December 2003 | £70,000 | ||||
| 6 January 2004 | £150,000 | ||||
| 15 January 2004 | Free transfer | ||||
| 21 January 2004 | Free transfer | ||||
| 31 January 2004 | Free transfer | ||||
| 25 March 2004 | Free transfer | ||||
| £270,000 |
| Date | Pos | Player | To | Loan End | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 August 2003 | 6 September 2003 | ||||
| 1 September 2003 | 31 May 2004 | ||||
| 4 September 2003 | 7 December 2003 | ||||
| 7 November 2003 | 31 December 2003 | ||||
| 15 November 2003 | 21 December 2003 | ||||
| 21 November 2003 | 11 December 2003 | ||||
| 11 December 2003 | 10 January 2004 | ||||
| 12 December 2003 | 12 January 2004 | ||||
| 8 January 2004 | 31 May 2004 | ||||
| 23 January 2004 | 23 February 2004 | ||||
| 13 March 2004 | 23 March 2004 | ||||
| 19 April 2004 | 31 May 2004 | ||||
£6,000,000
£270,000
£5,730,000
See main article: 2003–04 FA Premier League.
The following players did not appear for the first team this season, and spent most of the season playing for the reserves.
The following players did not appear for the first team this season, and spent most of the season playing for the youth team, but may have also appeared for the reserves.
The following players did not play for any Aston Villa team this season.
As of end of season[3] |-! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Goalkeepers|-! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Defenders|-! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Midfielders|-! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Forwards|-! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Players transferred or loaned out during the season|-
| Date | Opponents | Home/ Away | Result F – A | Scorers | Competition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 July 2003 | FC TPS Turku  | A | 3 – 0 | Ángel (2), Vassell | Friendly | |
| 24 July 2003 | Pitea  | A | 8 – 0 | Allbäck (3), Crouch (3), Alpay, Hendrie | Friendly | |
| 26 July 2003 | Umea | A | 4 – 0 | Vassell, Hendrie, Hitzlsperger, McCann | Friendly | |
| 28 July 2003 | Bodens BK | A | 4 – 2 | Mellberg, Vassell, Makumbu (og), Crouch | Friendly | |
| 1 August 2003 | Walsall | A | 1 – 2 | Vassell | Friendly | |
| 2 August 2003 | Tamworth | A | 4 – 1 | Kachloul (2), Cooke, Crouch | Friendly | |
| 5 August 2003 | Scunthorpe | A | 5 – 0 | Allbäck (3), Ángel, De la Cruz | Friendly | |
| 9 August 2003 | Leeds | N | 2 – 2 | Kachloul, Hitzlsperger (Aston Villa win 4–2 on pens) | Friendly, Dublin Cup | |
| 10 August 2003 | St Patricks  | N | 6 – 0 | Ángel (3), Allbäck, Whittingham, Hitzlsperger | Friendly, Dublin Cup |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Competition | Scorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 August 2003 | Portsmouth | A | [1–2] | Premier League | Barry (pen) 82' | 20,101 | |
| 24 August 2003 | Liverpool | H | [0–0] | Premier League | 42,573 | ||
| 27 August 2003 | Arsenal | A | [0–2] | Premier League | 38,010 | ||
| 30 August 2003 | Leicester City | H | 3–1 | Premier League | Thatcher (og) 8', Ángel 10', 16' | 32,274 | |
| 14 September 2003 | Manchester City | A | 1–4 | Premier League | Ángel 31' | 46,687 | |
| 20 September 2003 | Charlton Athletic | H | [2–1] | Premier League | Alpay 37', Samuel 55' | 31,410 | |
| 23 September 2003 | Wycombe Wanderers | A | 5–0 | League Cup | Whittingham 14', Ángel 31, (pen) 50', 55', Vassell (pen) 86' | 6,072 | |
| 27 September 2003 | Chelsea | A | [0–1] | Premier League | 41,182 | ||
| 5 October 2003 | Bolton | H | [1–1] | Premier League | Ángel 58' | 30,229 | |
| 19 October 2003 | Birmingham | A | [0–0] | Premier League | 29,546 | ||
| 25 October 2003 | Everton | H | [0–0] | Premier League | 36,146 | ||
| 29 October 2003 | Leicester | H | 1–0 | League Cup | Hitzlsperger 75' | 26,729 | |
| 1 November 2003 | Newcastle | A | 1–1 | Premier League | Dublin 11' | 51,975 | |
| 8 November 2003 | Middlesbrough | H | [0–2] | Premier League | 29,898 | ||
| 23 November 2003 | Tottenham | A | [1–2] | Premier League | Allbäck 66' | 33,140 | |
| 29 November 2003 | Southampton | H | [1–0] | Premier League | Dublin 45' | 31,285 | |
| 3 December 2003 | Crystal Palace | H | 3–0 | League Cup | Symons (og) 22', McCann 70', Ángel 79' | 24,258 | |
| 6 December 2003 | Manchester United | A | 0–4 | Premier League | 67,621 | ||
| 14 December 2003 | Wolves | H | 3–2 | Premier League | Ángel 21', 24', Barry 48' | 36,964 | |
| 17 December 2003 | Chelsea | H | [2–1] | League Cup | Ángel 16', McCann 78' | 30,414 | |
| 20 December 2003 | Blackburn Rovers | A | [2–0] | Premier League | S. Moore 62', Ángel 75' | 20,722 | |
| 26 December 2003 | Leeds United | A | [0–0] | Premier League | 38,513 | ||
| 28 December 2003 | Fulham | H | 3–0 | Premier League | Ángel 33', Vassell 67', 82' | 35,617 | |
| 4 January 2004 | Man Utd | H | [1–2] | FA Cup | Barry 19' | 40,371 | |
| 6 January 2004 | Portsmouth | H | [2–1] | Premier League | Ángel 22', Vassell 85' | 28,625 | |
| 10 January 2004 | Liverpool | A | [0–1] | Premier League | 43,771 | ||
| 18 January 2004 | Arsenal | H | [0–2] | Premier League | 39,380 | ||
| 21 January 2004 | Bolton | A | 2–5 | League Cup | Ángel 20', 56' | 16,302 | |
| 27 January 2004 | Bolton Wanderers | H | [2–0] | League Cup | Hitzlsperger 10', Samuel 88' | 36,883 | |
| 31 January 2004 | Leicester City | A | 5–0 | Premier League | Vassell 50', 60', Crouch 57', 68', Dublin 64' | 31,056 | |
| 07 February 2004 | Leeds United | H | [2–0] | Premier League | Ángel (pen) 45', Johnsen 59' | 39,171 | |
| 11 February 2004 | Fulham | A | [2–1] | Premier League | Ángel 13', Vassell 32' | 16,153 | |
| 22 February 2004 | Birmingham | H | 2–2 | Premier League | Vassell 21', Hitzlsperger 47' | 40,061 | |
| 28 February 2004 | Everton | A | [0–2] | Premier League | 39,353 | ||
| 14 March 2004 | Wolves | A | 4–0 | Premier League | Hitzlsperger 7', Mellberg 18', Ángel 24', 59' | 29,386 | |
| 20 March 2004 | Blackburn Rovers | H | [0–2] | Premier League | 37,532 | ||
| 27 March 2004 | Charlton Athletic | A | [2–1] | Premier League | Vassell 24', Samuel 54' | 26,250 | |
| 4 April 2004 | Manchester City | H | [1–1] | Premier League | Ángel 21' | 37,602 | |
| 10 April 2004 | Bolton Wanderers | A | [2–2] | Premier League | Crouch 18', Hendrie 53' | 26,374 | |
| 12 April 2004 | Chelsea | H | 3–2 | Premier League | Vassell (pen) 39', Hitzlsperger 49', Hendrie 52' | 41,112 | |
| 18 April 2004 | Newcastle United | H | [0–0] | Premier League | 40,786 | ||
| 24 April 2004 | Middlesbrough | A | [2–1] | Premier League | Barry 45', Crouch 89' | 31,322 | |
| 2 May 2004 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | [1–0] | Premier League | Ángel 5' | 42,573 | |
| 8 May 2004 | Southampton | A | [1–1] | Premier League | Ángel (pen) 39' | 32,054 | |
| 15 May 2004 | Manchester United | H | [0–2] | Premier League | 42,573 |