Sam Allardyce’s Bolton Wanderers squad of 2003/04: What happened next?
When we think of Bolton Wanderers, we think of Sam Allardyce, physicality and then a decline in fortunes.
Times are difficult at the University of Bolton Stadium, previously known in the glory era as the ‘Reebok’, with the Trotters currently in the bottom half of League Two after years of instability off the pitch.
It’s been a rapid decline much to do with the owners as it is to do with the inability to produce profitable talent. There have been moments; Gary Cahill was picked up cheaply, developed and sold on at a vast profit, but that remains an anomaly in the recent history of the Trotters.
The Premier League must seem like a distant memory, but nostalgia is wonderful, so let us reminisce over a genuinely brilliant outfit Bolton boasted in the early noughties.
The 2003/04 campaign was the club’s third consecutive season in the Premier League and a year in which they narrowly lost out to Middlesbrough in the League Cup final. That aside, it was the first year that they cemented their place in the top half.
The previous two years had been relegation battles, but this was the year Allardyce led the club to the unimaginable heights of eighth. When you consider the core players in that squad, it is no wonder they did so well.
Here’s a look at some of the key players in that memorable Trotters season.
Jussi Jaaskelainen
Position: Goalkeeper
Career path: Mikkelin Palloilijat, Vaasan Pallosuera, Bolton Wanderers, West Ham United, Wigan Athletic, ATK
Bolton appearances: 527
The Finnish goalkeeper started his career in his homeland, but his talents were soon rewarded with a move to Bolton in 1997. He went on to make 527 appearances in a career spanning 15 years with the club, surely making his mark in the history books.
Jaaskelainen regularly played internationally with Finland, and with Bolton’s relegation, joined up with Allardyce and West Ham United to keep his place in the Premier League. Once opportunities dried up with the Hammers and he was replaced by Adrian, he joined Wigan Athletic where his side won League One in 2015/16. He finished his career with Indian Super League side ATK (formerly known as Atletico de Kolkata).
Emerson Thome
Position: Centre-back
Career path: Internacional, Academica, Tirsense, Benfica, Alverca (Loan), Sheffield Wednesday, Chelsea, Sunderland, Bolton, Wigan, Derby (Loan), Vissel Kobe
Bolton appearances: 29
The Brazilian’s English career started after a successful spell with Sheffield Wednesday before he was rewarded with a move to Chelsea. After struggling at Stamford Bridge, he hopped from Sunderland to Bolton where he spent just one season in the heart of the defence.
Since, he had unsuccessful stints with Wigan where he once again lost in the League Cup final, and ultimately Derby before moving to Japan to join up with Vissel Kobe where he finally decided to hang up his boots.
Thome turned scout in retirement, working in Portugal for Everton, West Ham and now RB Leipzig.
Bruno N’Gotty
Position: Centre-back
Career path: Lyon, PSG, AC Milan, Venezia (Loan), Marseille, Bolton, Birmingham, Leicester, Hereford (loan), L’AS Attes
Bolton appearances: 172
N’Gotty’s tenure at Bolton was his second longest career spell, despite having been rumoured to have rejected the original offer. His CV is lavish, but it was in Bolton where he made his greatest impact. Another fan favourite, the Frenchman was said to have wanted to retire with Bolton, but Allardyce was to release him in 2006.
He then went on to play for Birmingham where he was once more promoted to the Premier League but opted not to stay for an extra year. After a spell with Leicester, he retired before joining up with French 6th tier side L’AS Attes.
Ricardo Gardner
Position: Left-back/left midfielder
Career path: Harbour View, Bolton, Preston (loan)
Bolton appearances: 409
The resourceful Jamaican started his career at home with Harbour View before joining up with the Trotters in 1998; the place he would call home for 14 years. In 409 appearances, he managed just 23 goals but played his part in some of the most enjoyable Bolton Premier League moments.
He didn’t score much, but one that all Bolton fans will remember was his goal at the Allianz Arena as they famously held European giants Bayern Munich to a draw in the UEFA Cup.
His career ended due to a knee injury and after an unsuccessful trial with MLS side Real Salt Lake, he retired. The loyal Trotter is now the assistant coach at Jamaican side Portmore United.
Ivan Campo
Position: Centre midfield
Career path: Alaves, Valencia, Valladolid (loan), Mallorca, Real Madrid, Bolton, Ipswich, AEK Larnaca
Bolton appearances: 172
Real Madrid to Bolton Wanderers. A natural progression, you could say. Bolton fans can consider themselves very fortunate to have had such quality in their side. Campo oozed class and dictated Bolton’s midfield for six seasons.
Spectacularly, he scored a goal from just over 40 yards against Tottenham Hotspur, but in the season of 2006/07 his disciplinary record led manager Gary Megson to avoid offering him a new contract. It was a sour end for the Spaniard.
He left for Ipswich, but the two-time Champions League winner’s heart remained in Bolton. After retiring with AEK Larnaca in Cyprus, he returned once more to the Reebok for Jaaskelainen’s testimonial.
Amid all the disarray, Campo offered his services to the club in 2012, citing that he was ‘sad’ to see where the club was heading.
Jay-Jay Okocha
Position: Attacking midfielder
Career path: Borussia Neunkirchen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbache, PSG, Bolton, Qatar Sports Club, Hull City
Bolton appearances: 145
Extravagance. Flair. Artistry. Jay-Jay Okocha was a master of skill and finesse and his move to Bolton was one all Premier League fans were lucky enough to enjoy. Never one for the ordinary, Okocha captained this side to the League Cup final. His time at Bolton was the longest of his career, but amid interest from Qatar, he joined up with QSC in 2006.
After an injury-drizzled spell with Hull City, he was forced into retirement. Upon Bolton’s relegation in 2012, he stated his time was ‘wasted’ at the club as they had not taken any strides since.
Kevin Nolan
Position: Central midfield
Career path: Bolton, Newcastle, West Ham, Leyton Orient, Notts County
Bolton appearances: 345
The Bolton academy graduate spent his first 10 years in football at the Reebok, scoring 40 goals in the process. He went on to captain the side before joining Newcastle in 2009 after receiving some undeserved criticism from the fans. There and at West Ham United, he enjoyed a freer role which saw him score more goals and look more of an attacking threat.
He holds the unwanted record of being the player to have played the most amount of Premier League games without an England call-up.
After falling out of favour in the Premier League, the Mersey-born midfielder took to player-management with Leyton Orient and Notts County. He is now on David Moyes’ coaching staff at West Ham.
Youri Djorkaeff
ON THIS DAY: In 2002, Bolton signed World Cup and European Championship winner Youri Djorkaeff from Kaiserslautern. pic.twitter.com/3ICG6uJeoQ
— Squawka (@Squawka) February 13, 2018
Position: Attacking midfielder
Career path: Grenoble, Strasbourg, Monaco, PSG, Inter Milan, Kaiserslautern, Bolton, Blackburn, New York Red Bulls
Bolton appearances: 85
Starting his career with Grenoble in France, Djorkaeff enjoyed the initial stages of his career at home with Monaco and then PSG. Once more, there was an element of shock as Djorkaeff joined up with Campo and Okocha in Bolton. The trio had enjoyed such illustrious careers that move to Bolton seem unfathomable, but Allardyce must have had a way with words.
Throughout his career, he won the World Cup and Euros with France in 1998 and 2000 respectively, as well as a UEFA Cup with Inter Milan. We wonder where his League Cup runners-up with Bolton medal sits in his cabinet?
Soon after his spell with Bolton, he made three appearances with Blackburn before joining up with the New York Red Bulls years prior to it becoming fashionable.
Per Frandsen
Position: Right midfield
Career path: B 1903, Lille, Copenhagen, Bolton, Blackburn, Bolton, Wigan
Bolton appearances: 307
Alongside the luxuries of Djorkaeff, Campo and Okocha sat Per Frandsen, the other vital component of the Bolton midfield. He wasn’t the same type of player, but if anything, he’s remembered more fondly.
Starting his career with B 1903 in Denmark, he played in France before coming to England and playing for Bolton, Blackburn and Wigan. The 2003/04 season would be his last with the Trotters, and he would go on to coach HB Koge, Brondby U19, Akademisk Boldklub and now Hvidovre IF.
He is often seen back in Bolton, being interviewed on his favourite memories and goals with the club, although his focus is more on managing Danish side Hvidovre IF.
Stelios Giannakopoulos
Position: Winger/attacking midfield
Career path: Ethnikos Asteras, Paniliakos, Olympiacos, Bolton, Hull, AEL
Bolton appearances: 177
After a seven-year career with Greek giants Olympiacos, the nimble midfielder made the choice to sign up with Bolton in 2003. His initial success with the Trotters saw him linked with Man City and Liverpool, but he stayed on until 2008 where his relationship with Allardyce flourished.
Following five successful Premier League seasons with Bolton, his form dipped and he joined up with Phil Brown at the newly promoted Hull, but only made two appearances. After that, he joined AEL before having his contract ended in 2010.
Bizarrely, the Greek midfielder was said to have conjured up a consortium able to purchase the club, but nothing materialised. Over his career, he won multiple Super Leagues in Greece but most notably was part of that Greece squad to win the Euros in 2004. Stellios briefly joined the Greece coaching staff in 2019.
Henrik Pedersen
Position: Striker
Career path: Silkeborg, Bolton, Silkeborg (loan), Hull, Silkeborg
Bolton appearances: 143
Like Frandsen, the Danish striker began his career at home in Denmark. He initially struggled with the transition to the Premier League in 2001, but through sheer determination and accidental versatility, Pedersen became a useful resource for Allardyce.
Far from a renowned goalscorer, Pedersen was a fan-favourite for his efforts. He joined Hull in 2007, leaving Bolton after a falling out with Allardyce, before returning home to Silkeborg once more, citing ‘family reasons’.
Of the Bolton departure, Pedersen said a few years ago: “From some great years at Bolton there were about three months which were very, very black, for me.
“I agreed a new contract with Sam just before the (Manchester) United game away in the last year I was there.
“I sat down, we agreed a two-year deal, shook hands, went to play United on the Saturday and I think we lost 4-0 [It was 4-1].
“I got substituted before half time and on the Monday my agent called to say Allardyce had taken back the offer.
“That took a lot of the respect from me, as a person, and I was very down at that time.”
He now runs a pub in Silkeborg, apparently.
Kevin Davies
Position: Striker
Career path: Chesterfield, Southampton, Blackburn, Southampton, Millwall (loan), Bolton, Preston
Bolton appearances: 407
Despite all the teams he played for leading up to his spell at the Reebok, you still think of Davies as a one-club man. Chesterfield fans will almost certainly disagree, but it was his time with Bolton that earned him his sole England cap.
The consolation scorer in the League Cup defeat, Davies had a respectable return of 85 goals for Bolton. Known for his physicality, as was the norm with Allardyce’s Bolton, Davies was the true emblem of this Wanderers side, despite its big names.
In 2013, he was left out of Bolton’s squad for reserve strikers and joined up with Preston North End before retiring in 2015. After gaining his Uefa A coaching badge and managing semi-professional side Southport, Davies is now a football agent and occasional pundit.
