Middlesbrough looked a real threat in the premiership during the 2002-03 season as they finished the season off in 11th place. Ugo Ehiogu was in outstanding forming the Boro back line, partnering with Gareth Southgate. Boro were knocked out of the FA Cup and league cup in the third round of the competition.
Steve McClaren’s Middlesbrough side were in decent form once again during the 2003-04 season as they finished the campaign off in 11th position. McClaren guided Middlesbrough to their greatest ever triumph during the 2003-04 season as they won the league cup, reaching the final, meeting Bolton Wanderers. They defeated Bolton 2-1 in the match played at the Millennium Stadium.
The 2004-05 campaign witnessed the emergence of their young prodigy, Stewart Downing, a player that was voted as the ‘young player of the year’ in England by the end of the season. McClaren took Middlesbrough into seventh place by the end of the 2004-05 season. Boro reached the last sixteen of the UEFA Cup, losing against Sporting Lisbon. They met Man United in the FA Cup, losing against the eventual finalists 3-0.
The 2005-06 season saw the emergence of another young star at Boro, James Morrison. Middlesbrough finished the 2005-06 season off in 15th place; however they enjoyed an incredible season in the domestic cup competitions as they reached the final of the UEFA Cup, losing against Seville. They also reached the semi finals and quarter finals of the FA Cup and League Cup respectively.
Gareth Southgate was appointed as the new manager at the club at the end of the season.