The engine rewards "Workhorse" midfielders with high Stamina and Teamwork, but also technical wizards.
In CM, a great keeper wins you titles. Look for high Reflexes, Handling, and Agility.
| Player | Club | Age | Key Stats | Verdict | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Jan Oblak | Atlético Madrid | 28 | Reflexes 20, Positioning 20 | The best pure shot-stopper. Worth £80M. | | Alisson Becker | Liverpool | 29 | Handling 19, Agility 19 | Perfect for a high line (high Rushing Out). | | Ederson | Man City | 28 | Kicking 19, Reflexes 18 | More of a sweeper-keeper. Excellent distribution. | | Mike Maignan | AC Milan | 26 | Reflexes 18, One on Ones 19 | Best value. Available for £30-40M. | cm 01 02 patch 39 68 best players full
Hidden Gem: Giorgi Mamardashvili (Valencia) – Cheap, young (21), and becomes world-class by season 3.
GK: Costanzo (or Chiotis – free agent Greek god)
RB: Mike Duff
LB: Okoronkwo (retrain him – trust me)
CB: Taribo West
CB: Samuel Kuffour (Bayern – often unsettled)
RM: Kallstrom
LM: Mark Kerr
CM: Kim Källström
CM: Mido (yes, the Egyptian – on loan from Ajax first)
ST: Maxim Tsigalko
ST: To Madeira
What it is:
The "39 68" (3.9.68) patch is the final official data update for CM 01/02, but community versions (like CM 01/02 Starter Kit) often remaster it with updated transfers, CA/PA fixes, and modern tactics. The "best players" lists are typically crowd-sourced from veteran players. The engine rewards "Workhorse" midfielders with high Stamina
To access all the players mentioned above, you must start a new game with the Large Database selected and load the following leagues as "View-Only":
If you do not load these, the players will still exist, but their "reputation" may not generate them until later seasons. For the best results on Patch 3.9.68, load all leagues. GK: Costanzo (or Chiotis – free agent Greek
If you are reading this, you already know you are dealing with the undisputed king of football management simulators. Championship Manager 01/02 (CM 01/02) remains the gold standard two decades later, and the Patch 3.9.68 is the definitive version.
Why 3.9.68? Because it represents the final official data update from Sports Interactive before they split from Eidos. It fixes the infamous "Chiotis" exploit (mostly) and adjusts player attributes to reflect the real-world talent of the 2001/2002 season. For many, this patch is the only version worth playing.
However, finding the right players in this patch can be daunting. The database is vast, and the hidden attributes (Consistency, Important Matches, Injury Proneness) matter more than ever.
In this guide, we will break down the CM 01/02 Patch 3.9.68 best players full list, categorized by position, price, and long-term value. Whether you are Manchester United or a Conference minnow, these are your targets.