Deportivo 2003–04 Season
The season of the Miracle of Riazor. Deportivo de La Coruña produced the greatest result in their European history — and one of the greatest upsets in Champions League history — when they overturned a 4–1 first-leg deficit against AC Milan to reach the semi-finals. Winning 4–0 at Estadio Riazor in an atmosphere described by every witness as among the most electric ever experienced in European football, Deportivo produced 90 minutes of collective genius.
The semi-final against Monaco ended in elimination, but the achievement was historic. For a club from a Galician port city of 240,000 people, reaching the Champions League semi-finals was an extraordinary accomplishment. The night against Milan — 5 April 2004 — remains the most celebrated in the club’s history.
Domestically, a mid-table La Liga finish reflected the squad’s ageing profile and the inevitable decline from the title-winning peak. But nobody who witnessed the 2003–04 Champions League campaign will forget what this club was capable of at its best.
Key Facts
| Manager | Javier Irureta |
|---|---|
| European | CL SF |
Season Statistics
| League | Position | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primera División | 5th | 56 | 16 | 8 | 14 | 52 | 48 | +4 |