2003 Euro Beach Soccer League
The 2003 Euro Beach Soccer League, was the sixth edition of the Euro Beach Soccer League (EBSL), the premier beach soccer competition contested between European men's national teams, known as the European Pro Beach Soccer League at the time, occurring annually since its establishment in 1998. The league was organised by Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW) between June 6 and August 31, 2003 in nine different nations across Europe.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 6 June – 30 August |
| Teams | 9 (from 1 confederation) |
| Venue(s) | 9 (in 9 host cities) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Spain (4th title) |
| Runners-up | France |
| Third place | Portugal |
| Fourth place | Switzerland |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 61 |
| Goals scored | 653 (10.7 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) | Madjer |
| Best player(s) | Ramiro Amarelle |
| Best goalkeeper | Adrian Lingenhag |
This was the last time the tournament would be held under the Pro title, as the following season the tournament was renamed and shortened to the Euro Beach Soccer League.
Following the preceding season, BSWW continued organising the nations of the EBSL across two distinct groups based on ability. This season the two groups were renamed as Division A, the top tier group, comprising the best nations of the Europe and Division B, the lower tier group, consisting of teams with lesser ability than those in A; these replaced the Southern and Northern "divisions" established in 2002. Each team competed in their respective division to try and earn a place in the season-finale event, the Superfinal, in which the league title was then contested directly.
Spain, having won three successive titles from 1999 to 2001, successfully reclaimed the title by defeating France in extra-time in the final. This was the fourth European title won by the Spanish. Portugal, who entered as defending champions, lost in the Superfinal semi-finals, ultimately finishing in third place.
The league also doubled as the qualification process for the 2004 Beach Soccer World Championship. The nations finishing in first, second, third and fourth place qualified.