In the other direction, Iván Knez transferred out to Rapid Wien and Feliciano Magro returned to Udinese after his loan period ended.

Soon after the winter break, in the second half of the season, Oliver Kreuzer retired from his active football career.

However, because he did not have many team appearances during the season, five in the league and six in the UIC, the club did not renew his contract and Ceccaroni's professional career came to an end.

The home team were two goals up within half an hour and then on 38 minutes Hakan Yakin saw the red card for insulting the referee.

In the next game on 11 July 2001, a 3–1 home win in St. Jakob-Park against Servette, Marco Streller played his League debut being substituted in during the 66th Minute.

Christian Giménez was to play his debut on 18 July in the 3–3 draw with St. Gallen and his first goal for the club was to follow during the 3–1 home win against the Young Boys on the 11 August.

During this period of the season FCB played their best football and pulled away at the top of the table and subsequently achieved the championship title prematurely.

Both Lugano and Sion had reached the championship round, but both clubs did not obtain a 1st level license for the 2002/03 season and therefore both teams were relegated to the second tier.

FCB were always in danger of catching the equaliser, but despite doubling the lead on 41 minutes through a goal from George Koumantarakis, Concordia were dominating play.

The home team reacted well, they sought after the equaliser and didn’t have to wait long, because Kanga Akalé netted on 24 minutes.

The game was now level on possession until one minute before the break, as Ivan Ergic put the visitors back into the lead.

[11] In the semi-final Basel were drawn at home in the St. Jakob-Park against an out of form Young Boys, who had only picked up only one point in their last three league matches.

Alain Rochat stopped one of these with a foul inside the penalty area and was shown the yellow card by referee Massimo Busacca, but the spot kick from Murat Yakin rebounded from the post on 17 minutes.

At the other end Gürkan Sermeter missed the equaliser as Basel keeper Pascal Zuberbühler saved his penalty kick.

GC were stopped in their forwards movement and Basel played a long ball in the opponent’s half towards Hervé Tum, who ran on and beat the advancing keeper Fabrice Borer from 12 metres.

On 38 minutes Richard Núñez advanced on the right, turning on himself he played a long cross towards the far post, here Mladen Petrić ran clear and nodded in the equaliser.

This opened the big stage for the Basel captain, Murat Yakin took a run-up and safely converted the penalty kick to win the final 2–1 and thus the Trophy.

[13] From a FCB point of view, the club's cup aim to reach the final and win the trophy was achieved.

Because the league championship title had mathematically and prematurely been decided, with this trophy Basel had achieved the domestic double.

Basel’s clear aim for the competition was to reach the final and win it, to qualify to the UEFA Cup first round.

[18] The second leg in the Stade Olympique de la Pontaise only attracted 2,050 fans but they saw an interesting match in which Lausanne’s Pape Thiaw was the main character.

In the 30th minute Pape Thiaw committed a nasty foul and was booked for the offence by Ukrainian referee Vasyl Melnychuk.

They had qualified to the Final by beating NK Slaven Belupo 3–2 on aggregate in the third round and winning on away goals against Rennes in the semi-finals.

Murat Yakin, who constantly troubled Villa full-back Mark Delaney, set up his younger brother Hakan with a very good chip over the defence.

The striker advanced quickly to the area and left footed, shot powerfully, but the keeper dropped down well to save.

About ten minutes later, Argentinian striker Gimenez beat Enckelman with a low, curling shot that glanced passed the right-hand post.

The beginning of the second period was as evenly contested as the first, but on 59 minutes Villa’s captain Paul Merson scored their vital away goal, side-footing in from close range, after keeper Pascal Zuberbühler could only parry a hard shotHassan Kachloul.

The hosts could have equalised with their next chance Jean-Michel Tchouga was unmarked inside the area, but his wild effort glanced over the crossbar.

Basel did then restore parity on 74 minutes as substitute Carlos Varela ran forcefully into the area and following a powerful shot Enckelman could only parry and Gimenez side-footed the rebound home from close range.

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