Championship Manager 01/02 (v3.9.68), finding the right players early can make or break your save. The 3.9.68 patch, often considered the "official final update," features several "Super Greeks" and legendary bargains that are essential for any manager. The "Must-Sign" Legends Maxim Tsigalko
Arguably the greatest player in CM history. Despite his low price at Dinamo Minsk, he is a goal-scoring machine who frequently nets 50+ goals a season. Tó Madeira
A legendary fictional scout-inserted player at CD Gouveia. He is a world-class striker available for a tiny fee, though you often need a "Large" database loaded to find him. Taribo West
The ultimate free agent. He starts without a club and provides immediate world-class quality for any top-tier side.
The engine of any midfield. Signing him from Falkirk is a rite of passage for CM 01/02 players.
A versatile defender from Cheltenham who can excel at the highest level despite his humble beginnings. The "Super Greeks" (v3.9.68 Specials)
The Greek league was famously overpowered in this database. Look for: Anastasios Skalidis
A striker from Kavala who rivals Tsigalko for sheer volume of goals. Dionysis Chiotis
Often cited as the best goalkeeper in the game, playing for AEK Athens. Alexandros Papadopoulos
A young goal-scoring prodigy available for a low fee early on. Bargains & Wonderkids Assane N'Diaye
A rock in defensive midfield who is consistently rated as one of the best in his position. Julius Aghahowa championship manager 01 02 best players 3.9.68
Extremely fast and prolific, though he can be expensive if you don't move for him early. Kim Källström
A Swedish wonderkid from BK Häcken who becomes a creative force. Hugo Pinheiro
A fantastic young goalkeeper available for a very small fee at the start of the game. Josh Blake
A hidden gem available for as little as £1k who can easily score 20–30 goals in lower divisions. Installation & Useful Tools CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER 01/02 | Official Game Download NO CD
The 3.9.68 patch (released in November 2002) is the final official update for Championship Manager 01/02. Often called the "Super Greeks" database, it features legendary hidden gems and gives early potential boosts to real-world icons like Cristiano Ronaldo , Wayne Rooney , and Radamel Falcao . The GOATs and Must-Buy Strikers
Championship Manager 01/02 remains the gold standard of football management simulations, and the 3.9.68 data update is widely considered the definitive way to experience it. Whether you are looking to conquer the Premier League or climb from the Conference, knowing which players to target is the difference between a trophy parade and a mid-season sacking.
Here is the comprehensive guide to the best players in CM 01/02 under the 3.9.68 patch. The Legendary Cheat Codes
There are certain players in this database who transcend normal statistics. These are the "must-buys" that can turn a mid-table side into European champions overnight.
Topping every list is Tonton Zola Moukoko. Available for a pittance from Derby County, this attacking midfielder develops into the best player in the world within two seasons. Similarly, Cherno Samba at Millwall is the ultimate investment. He is a teenage striker who eventually guarantees 30 to 40 goals per season.
In the attacking midfield role, Mark Siguta and Julius Aghahowa are essential. Aghahowa, playing for Shakhtar, is a physical powerhouse with incredible pace and finishing. Siguta is a cheaper alternative who consistently over-performs his modest attributes. Defending the Goal Championship Manager 01/02 (v3
A solid foundation starts at the back. For the goalkeeper position, Dionisis Chiotis at AEK Athens is the undisputed king of the 3.9.68 update. He is incredibly cheap and consistently achieves the highest average ratings in the game. If you have a larger budget, Francesco Toldo and Gianluigi Buffon are the elite choices, but Chiotis is the pound-for-pound winner.
For your central defense, look no further than Ibrahim Said. He is versatile, strong, and available for a low fee from Al-Ahly. If you need a veteran presence, Taribo West is often available on a free transfer at the start of the game and can solidify any backline for at least three seasons. Dominating the Midfield
Winning the battle in the engine room requires a mix of steel and silk. Mark Kerr is the most famous "wonderkid" midfielder in the game. Playing for Falkirk, he can be signed for around £300k and will dominate the midfield for fifteen years.
If you need a more defensive presence, Stefan Selakovic is a versatile Swedish midfielder who can play almost anywhere but excels at breaking up play. For flair on the wings, Kennedy Bakircioglu and Alexandros Papadopoulos provide high-quality service for very low transfer fees. The Ultimate Goalscorers
While Samba is the long-term project, you might need immediate goals. Maxim Tsigalko (often spelled Tsygalko) is the most prolific striker in the history of the franchise. Playing for Dinamo Minsk, he usually costs less than £1M and will frequently score 50+ goals in a single campaign.
Another legendary figure is To Madeira. Though he was famously a fictional player inserted by a scout, in the 3.9.68 database, he is a goal-scoring machine for Gouveia. If you prefer a more "realistic" powerhouse, Pawel Brozek and Sergey Nikiforenko are reliable options that rarely fail to find the net. Essential Bargain Hunting
If you are managing a club with a restricted budget, the 3.9.68 update offers several gems:
Assane N'Diaye: A rock-solid defender available for very little. João Paiva: A young striker who develops rapidly. Saidou: A tireless defensive midfielder.
Isaac Okoronkwo: A versatile defender who can jump into any top-flight team.
Success in CM 01/02 3.9.68 isn't just about finding the best players; it's about finding them before the big clubs do. Scout these names on day one, and you’ll be well on your way to legendary status. Finding the championship manager 01 02 best players 3
Here’s a piece written in the nostalgic, tactical, and slightly obsessive spirit of the Championship Manager 01/02 community, specifically regarding the legendary 3.9.68 database update.
Finding the championship manager 01 02 best players 3.9.68 is only half the battle. You must use the 4-1-3-2 or 4-3-3 Diablo tactic (search the forums). The match engine cannot handle a free-roaming attacking midfielder. Play To Madeira as a free role AMC, or Tsigalko as a fast striker with "Run with Ball" and "Through Balls."
Pro tip: Set your passing to "Direct" and tempo to "Quick." With players like Kerr and Källström, you will slice through any defense.
Two decades on, and the whirring hum of a late-night PC fan still triggers a Pavlovian response. For a generation of football romantics, Championship Manager 01/02 wasn't just a game; it was a second life. And within that life, no patch is more sacred, more dissected, more perfect than the 3.9.68 update.
This was the final, definitive edit. The bug fixes were welcome, but what truly mattered was the data. This was the database where the meta crystallized. Where you no longer scouted—you knew. The challenge wasn't finding great players; it was prying them away from AI clubs before they became galacticos.
So, let us speak the sacred names. The players who turned your Wycombe Wanderers into Champions League winners by 2004.
Before we list the gods, understand the context. The original CM 01/02 (3.9.60) had great players, but the 3.9.68 database rebalanced the game. It fixed the "super-keeper" issue slightly, adjusted the match engine, and crucially, locked in the attributes of a generation of future superstars and hidden gems.
On 3.9.68, you can still sign a 34-year-old Claudio Caniggia for free. You can still watch Mark Kerr dominate your midfield. But the true magic is in the exploitation of the game’s calculation logic: Determination, Work Rate, and Pace are king. The players below rule because the match engine loves them.
These are non-negotiable signings. If you start a new save on 3.9.68 and you don’t buy at least half of these, you are playing wrong.
You’re managing in Division 3. You have no money. Your scout is a blind man with a grudge. Fear not. These men will ascend through the leagues with you.