The perfect playmaker. If you deploy a formation utilizing a standard "number 10," Totti will average a match rating above 8.00 every year.
| Player (Age) | Position | Starting Club | Cost | Key Attributes / Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | DM/MC | Falkirk | £450k | "God Tier" . A legendary box-to-box engine; better than Zidane for his price. | | Kim Källström (18) | AM LC | BK Häcken | £200k | "God Tier" . The ultimate cheap playmaker with a deadly left foot. | | Kennedy Bakircioglu (20) | AM RLC | Hammarby | £2M | "God Tier" . An incredibly versatile and talented creator. | | Rafael van der Vaart (18) | AM C | Ajax | £5M+ | A prodigious young talent, destined for superstardom. | | Arjen Robben (17) | AM/F L | Groningen | £2M | The left-wing legend in the making; pace, dribbling, and goals. | | Joe Cole (19) | AM LC | West Ham | £8M+ | Arguably the best young English attacking midfielder in the game. | | Pablo Aimar (21) | AM C | Valencia | £6M+ | A magical, creative playmaker. | | Juan Román Riquelme (23) | AM C | Barcelona | £10M+ | The archetypal 'enganche' with exceptional vision and technique. | | John O'Brien (23) | AM LC | Ajax | £3M | An often-overlooked player who is very effective in the hole. | | Tonton Zola Moukoko (18) | AM/F C | Derby | £2M | An unusual wonderkid with a legendary name, capable of magic. | | Eldar Hadzimehmedovic (17) | AM C | Malmö FF | £400k | "Hidden Gem" . An unbelievable bargain; scores a ton from midfield. |
The engine of any midfield. Signing him from Falkirk is a rite of passage for CM 01/02 players.
(GK) : One of the best goalkeepers in the game, a staple of the "Super Greeks" patch. Taribo West
Javier Saviola and Roque Santa Cruz form arguably the best strike force in the long-term (2-3 seasons in), though extracting Saviola from Barcelona is a challenge. Don't overlook Marius Niculae (Sporting) who can average two goals a game for cheap, or Dionisio Aritoglidis (Greek League), a cheap, monstrous finisher.
were removed in this official patch, many "God-tier" options remain. 🌟 Top Players for v3.9.68 Attackers (ST/SC/FC) Maxim Tsigalko :
This created a polished, balanced game world where legendary players could develop realistically, making every save file an immersive journey.
| Player (Age) | Position | Starting Club | Cost | Key Attributes / Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | SC | Dinamo Minsk | £1M | "God Tier" . The absolute, undisputed king of goals; a goal machine. | | Tó Madeira (20) | SC | Gouveia | £1.2M | "God Tier" . An unreal mythical figure; scores for fun. | | Cherno Samba (16) | SC | Millwall | £1M+ | "God Tier" . The 16-year-old phenomenon who will score 60+ a season in his prime. | | Julius Aghahowa (19) | F C | Shakhtar | £4M | "God Tier" . Incredible speed and power; an instant impact superstar. | | Henrik Larsson (30) | SC | Celtic | £8M+ | Guaranteed goals, especially if you can pair him with a top playmaker. | | Andriy Shevchenko (25) | SC | AC Milan | £20M+ | A world-class, consistent, and lethal finisher. | | Ruud van Nistelrooy (25) | SC | Man Utd | £20M+ | The ultimate penalty box predator. | | Michael Dunwell (25) | SC | Stockport County | £60k | "Hidden Gem" . Unreal returns from a player with mediocre stats; a goal-a-game guaranteed. | | Josh Blake (21) | SC | Leamington | Peanuts | "Hidden Gem" . Amazing for lower league saves; scores lots of goals. | | Eldar Hadzimehmedovic (17) | AM/F C | Malmö FF | £400k | "Hidden Gem" . Can also be retrained as a striker and be just as prolific. | | Falcão Garcia (15) | SC | Free Agent | Free! | "Hidden Gem" . A free 15-year-old who can become world-class; check his availability at the end of December 2001. | | Mido (18) | SC | Ajax | £2M | A powerful young striker, available for a good price. | | Marco Di Vaio (25) | SC | Parma | £5M | A very underrated and consistent goalscorer. |
Tactical Freedom and Emergent Stories CM 01/02 empowered players to create their own tactical philosophies. Whether deploying classical formations like 4-4-2 or experimenting with sweeper systems or narrow diamond midfields, managers could tailor team instructions and individual player roles. The combination of tactical nuance and player personality led to emergent narratives: an overlooked veteran becoming a dressing-room leader, a youth prodigy rising from the reserves to World Player of the Year, or a mid-table club climbing to continental competition after a shrewd transfer window. These stories forged strong emotional attachments between players and their virtual teams.
: One of the most famous bargain midfielders; consistent and cheap. Julius Aghahowa
The game's addictive gameplay, coupled with its intuitive interface and rich features, made it a staple of many gamers' collections. With a vast array of teams, players, and competitions to manage, Championship Manager 01/02 offered countless hours of entertainment.