Two decades later, Championship Manager 01/02 remains the gold standard for football management simulation. While the game is famous for its "cheat" players, the v3.9.68 patch changed the landscape slightly, fixing some bugs and altering the stats of a few stars.
If you are starting a new save on the classic 3968 database, here are the players you must sign to guarantee domestic and European dominance.
No list of "championship manager 01 02 best players" is complete without the Belarusian legend. Maxim Tsigalko (often spelled Tsygalko depending on the translation) has a starting CA (Current Ability) that looks average, but his PA (Potential Ability) is a monstrous 190+. His stats for Pace, Finishing, and Off the Ball are broken. He regularly scores 50+ goals a season. Rest in peace, Maxim – your digital legacy is eternal.
If there is a Mount Rushmore of CM legends, Mark Kerr has his face carved into the granite four times. Available for less than £500k from Scottish side Falkirk, Kerr is the perfect Central Midfielder. He possesses a 20 for Work Rate, 20 for Determination, and 20 for Stamina. He runs for 90 minutes, breaks legs, and then plays a slide-rule pass for a goal. In the 3968 database, he is non-negotiable. championship manager 01 02 best players 3968
CM 01/02 originally shipped with a database version often referred to as 3.9.68 after the final official patch. However, the “3968” in community lore means the original 3.9.68 database before any fan edits — where certain players (like Mark Kerr, To Madeira, Taribo West, Kim Källström) had absurdly low release clauses, phenomenal attributes for their age, or were free agents.
Note: To Madeira is a known fictional player added by a tester, but he’s part of the 3968 legend.
If you want to build an invincible squad in three seasons, here is your cheat sheet. Two decades later, Championship Manager 01/02 remains the
| Position | Player Name | Club | Cost (Approx) | Why they are great | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Goalkeeper | Sebastian Svärd | F.C. Copenhagen | £300k | Young, cheap, becomes world class by 2004. | | Goalkeeper | Costanzo | River Plate | £5M | The best shot-stopper in the game. 20s in key areas. | | Left Back | John Arne Riise | Monaco | £8M | Insane long throws, free kicks, and crossing. | | Center Back | Naldo (RSC Anderlecht) | Brazil U20s | £1M | 6'6", high jumping, scores 10-15 goals from corners. | | Center Back | Isaac Okoronkwo | Shakhtar Donetsk | £3M | Nigerian brick wall. Pace + Strength. | | Right Back | Mike Duff | Cheltenham | £500k | The speed demon. | | DM / CM | Mark Kerr | Falkirk | £500k | The engine room. | | CM / AM | Kim Källström | Hacken | £1.8M | Long shots and passing. | | LM / RM | Andrés D’Alessandro | River Plate | £4M | The "Little Headmaster." Dribbling 20. | | AM / FC | Julius Aghahowa | Shakhtar Donetsk | £3M | Pace, finishing, acrobatic goals. | | Striker | Maxim Tsigalko | Dinamo Minsk | £1M | The goal record destroyer. | | Striker | Tó Madeira | Free Agent | £0 | The ultimate cheat code. |
In an era of hyper-realistic graphics, microtransactions, and cloud saves, Championship Manager 01/02 (3.9.68) represents a purity of design. The search for the "championship manager 01 02 best players 3968" is not just about winning matches. It is a nostalgic pilgrimage to a simpler time.
It is about the joy of scouting Maxim Tsigalko. It is the thrill of getting Mark Kerr to sign a part-time contract. It is the disbelief when Tó Madeira scores a bicycle kick in the 89th minute of the Champions League final. Note: To Madeira is a known fictional player
If you still have a copy on your old laptop, or if you acquire it through... alternative digital means... load up the 3968 database today. Buy Mike Duff. Sell your superstars. And watch the 2D dots score a last-minute winner.
You won’t find a better football game. You never will.
Do you have a favorite CM 01/02 legend we missed? Are you a fan of Stefan Selakovic? Or do you swear by Anatoli Todorov? Let the debate rage on in the forums.
These players start young but develop into absolute peak CM‑engine monsters:
(Note: the exact name and attributes of ID 3968 can vary by database release and community edits. Below is a representative reconstructed profile using standard CM 01/02 default database values when ID 3968 corresponds to a top-tier player.)