During the 2001–02 English football season, Derby County competed in theFA Premier League (known as the FA Barclaycard Premiership for sponsorship reasons).
Derby started their new season quite well with a 2–1 win over newly-promotedBlackburn Rovers. ManagerJim Smith rejected the offer to become Director of Football and resigned on 7 October after more than six years at the helm. His assistantColin Todd, who won two league titles with the club in the 1970s, was promoted to the manager's seat, but by this stage the Rams were deep in relegation trouble.[1] A shock 3–1 home defeat againstDivision Three strugglersBristol Rovers in theFA Cup proved the final straw for the directors and Todd was sacked days later, after a mere three months in charge.[2] By the end of the month,John Gregory had taken over atPride Park just six days after quittingAston Villa.[3] Two quick wins and a draw againstManchester United suggested that Gregory might be Derby's saviour, but seven defeats from their final eight games condemned Derby to relegation.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
The following players did not appear for the first team this season.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
^Powell was born inLambeth,England, but also qualified to representJamaica internationally and made his international debut forJamaica in 1998.
^Burton was born inReading,England, but also qualified to representJamaica internationally and made his international debut forJamaica in September 1997.
^Higginbotham was born inManchester,England, but also qualified to representGibraltar internationally through his maternal grandmother and would make his international debut forGibraltar in November 2013.