Championship Manager 01 02 Best Players 3968 ⚡

Before we list the best players, we must address the elephant in the room—or rather, the three numbers in the keyword. You see, CM 01/02 was not a static game. It shipped with several official data updates via CD-ROM patches. The original release was version 3.9.60. Later patches updated the database to 3.9.65 and finally, the legendary 3.9.68.

To the average player, 3.9.68 (shortened to "3968") is the definitive edition. It features the post-2002 World Cup adjustments, corrected transfer data, and—most importantly—refined player attributes. Many hardcore fans consider the "3968" database to be the most balanced, challenging, and rewarding version of the game.

Why does this matter for "best players"? A player who was a world-beater in 3.9.60 might be merely average in 3.9.68. When veterans discuss the best players, they almost always refer to the 3968 database. So, let’s dive into the superstars, the hidden gems, and the tactical exploits of this masterpiece.

Purists will argue that Tó Madeira is a "fake" player (a developer easter egg). He exists in the 3968 database as a free agent. With 20 for Finishing, 20 for Flair, and 20 for Long Shots, he is the best striker in the game on a free transfer. He will sign for any club, from Manchester United to a third-division Swedish team. He doesn’t just score hattricks; he scores quadruple hattricks.

If you want to build an invincible squad in three seasons, here is your cheat sheet.

In Championship Manager 01/02, some of the best players can be quite sought after. Here are a few top picks:

These players are highly rated in the game and can greatly impact your team's performance.

Championship Manager 01/02 , the 3.9.68 patch represents the game in its final, most polished form. While some fans argue that certain "super-wonderkids" from earlier versions (like version 3.9.60) had their attributes slightly adjusted, the database remains filled with world-class bargains and legendary performers. The "Must-Have" Legends

These are the players widely considered essential for any 3.9.68 save, regardless of your team's stature: Maxim Tsigalko

(SC): Even on the 3.9.68 patch, Tsigalko remains the most lethal striker in the game. Available for a low fee from Dinamo Minsk, he is capable of scoring 50+ goals per season. Taribo West

(DC): The legendary free agent. At the start of a new game, West is often available for no transfer fee and remains a rock-solid defender for almost any club in the world.

(MC): A cheap central midfielder from Falkirk who develops into one of the best in the game. Though some players report his stats appearing lower on paper in 3.9.68, he remains a consistent top performer with high average ratings. Hugo Pinheiro

(GK): A young Portuguese goalkeeper available for a minimal fee (usually under £200k) who quickly develops world-class reflexes and handling. Ibrahim Said

(SW/D/DMC): A versatile Egyptian defender who is remarkably cheap and effective across multiple positions in the back line. Elite Wonderkids & Bargains

If you have a slightly larger budget (typically £1M–£5M), these players offer world-class potential: Kim Källström

(MC): The Swedish midfield engine. He can be signed for around £1M–£2M and dominates the center of the pitch with his technical ability. Julius Aghahowa championship manager 01 02 best players 3968

(F C): An incredibly fast Nigerian forward who is a target for almost every major club early in the game. Kennedy Bakircioglü

(AM FRLC): A versatile Swedish attacker who can play anywhere across the front line and provides consistent goals and assists.

(D/MR): A reliable right-back from Cheltenham who is famously consistent and a staple for many championship-winning sides. Hidden Gems of the 3.9.68 Database

For those looking for less obvious names or dirt-cheap options for smaller clubs:

(AMC): A Brazilian attacking midfielder known for high goal-scoring output from the midfield. Sergio Lara

(AMR): Often available as a free agent, he is a highly effective winger with excellent work rate and crossing. To Madeira

(SC): A legendary "fictional" player included by a scout in the original database. While he is most famous in early versions, he remains a cult hero for his goal-scoring prowess if found. Andri Sigþórsson

(SC): An Icelandic striker who is typically very cheap and a reliable source of goals for mid-tier teams. Top Active Players (2001 Reality)

While the game is famous for its wonderkids, the 3.9.68 database also captures the "Galáctico" era and prime world-class talent: 3.9.68] - Championship Manager 2001/2002 Forums

The Last Perfect Season: A Championship Manager 01/02 Story

In the autumn of 2023, Leo’s laptop was a museum piece. Its fan whirred like a dying bee, and the screen held a ghostly afterimage of spreadsheets. But on that screen, glowing through a DOS-box emulator, was the holy grail: Championship Manager 01/02. More specifically, the 3.9.68 database update.

To the outside world, it was a relic. To a certain breed of thirty-something, it was the Codex Sinaiticus of football.

Leo had been chasing a dragon for twenty years. He had managed Real Madrid on FM24, built a dynasty at Newcastle on FM08, even conquered Europe with Red Star Belgrade on FM15. But nothing—nothing—felt as pure as the 2D circles of CM 01/02. The game didn’t care about 3D match engines or press conferences. It cared about one thing: finding the monsters hidden in the data.

And in the 3968 database, the monsters were real.

The Scouting Revelation

Leo started unemployed, his reputation set to "Automatic." He took the job at Brescia, a small, proud club from Lombardy. The board wanted mid-table. Leo wanted immortality. Before we list the best players, we must

His first act was not to drill tactics. It was to fire his entire scouting team. He didn't need them. He had the list.

He opened the "Search" filter. Age: Under 23. Position: Striker. Value: Less than £500k.

Then he typed the names like sacred incantations.

Anatoli Todorov. The Bulgarian. Pace 20, Finishing 20, Dribbling 19. He was 16 years old and cost £240k from Litex Lovech. In the real world, he never became a superstar. In CM 01/02, he was Pelé reborn. Leo offered a contract before the first friendly.

Taras Mikhalik. The Ukrainian defender. Not a household name in real life. In 3968, he was a brick wall with tackling 18 and positioning 20. He cost £180k from Dynamo Kyiv’s reserves.

Kim Kallstrom. Everyone knew him. But in 3968, he was still at Hacken, a 19-year-old with passing 19, long shots 20, and a release clause of £300k. Leo signed him and built the midfield around him.

And then… Maxim Tsigalko. The Belarusian myth. The player whose very name makes old CM veterans go misty-eyed. He had 20 for Pace, Finishing, Off the Ball, and Determination. He cost £500k. He would score 50 goals a season. He didn't exist in real life as a great player. But in the database, he was a god.

The Season

The first match was a 1-0 loss to Juventus. The pundits wrote Brescia off. Leo smiled. He knew.

By October, Todorov had his first hat-trick against Venezia. Tsigalko was holding the ball up, laying it off to Kallstrom, who would smash in 25-yarders with the nonchalance of a man playing FIFA on amateur mode.

The 2D engine was simple: green circles chasing a white dot. But in that simplicity, the magic lived. You saw Mikhalik step out of the defensive line to intercept a through ball. You felt the tension as the dot wobbled toward the opposition box.

By January, Brescia was 4th. By March, 2nd. Leo had made no tactical tweaks. He simply played 4-1-3-2, attacking, hard tackling, no offside trap. The game was broken, and he was happy to break it.

The defining moment came against Inter in the Coppa Italia semi-final. 2-2 on aggregate. 89th minute. The dot moved to Tsigalko, 25 yards out. He had "Shoots From Distance" as a hidden attribute. Leo held his breath. The dot flew. The net rippled. The commentary read: "Tsigalko curls it into the top corner! A wonder goal!"

Leo pumped his fist in an empty room. His wife, passing by, sighed. “Is that the Bulgarian again?”

“Belarusian,” Leo corrected, not looking away.

The Aftermath

Brescia won the Scudetto on the final day. Tsigalko finished with 42 league goals. Todorov had 28 assists. Mikhalik had an average rating of 8.32. The board offered a new contract. Leo rejected it.

He had done what thousands of players had done before him. He had exploited the 3968 database. But that wasn't the point.

The point was the feeling. In the modern games, everything is analyzed to death. xG. Data hub. Player chats. In CM 01/02, it was just you, your wits, and a handful of impossibly overpowered teenagers from Eastern Europe. It was a simpler time. A better time.

Leo saved the game. He named the file “GOAT_3968.” Then he closed the laptop, leaned back, and smiled.

Twenty years later, the game was still undefeated. And so was he.

Championship Manager 01/02 (CM 01/02) is arguably the most beloved entry in the series, maintaining a massive cult following decades after its release. The 3.9.68 patch represents the definitive version of the original database, fixing critical bugs and refining player attributes to create the ultimate nostalgic challenge.

If you are looking to build a world-conquering squad in the .68 database, these are the essential players you need to sign. The Iconic Legends

These are the "gods" of CM 01/02, players whose in-game ability far exceeded their real-world careers. Arjen Robben

"Robben ( Arjen Robben ) is a really amazing player," Okada said. Arjen Robben

Championship Manager 01/02 3.9.68 patch is the final official update from SI Games and is widely considered the definitive way to play the "original" game. While it removed the legendary "cheat" player Tó Madeira

, many other cult icons remain available to dominate the league. The Must-Buy "Gods" of 3.9.68

These players are essential signings for any team, often combining low cost with world-class performance. Cherno Samba

This paper examines the highest-rated players in Championship Manager 01/02 using the game's internal player database ID 3968 as a focal case study. It outlines the methodology for identifying top players in CM 01/02, profiles the player represented by ID 3968, compares that player to other elite talents in the game, and discusses implications for player scouting, team building, and long-term saves. The analysis combines technical details of the game's data structure with tactical and developmental considerations for managers seeking to maximize in-game performance.

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.