Championship Manager 01/02 is, other than the odd hour on 97/98, the first of the series I got into it. I am still in it now! There were so many players that you ‘had to sign’, who would develop into world-beaters and bang in the goals.
I have taken a look at those players who went on to bigger and better things from teams in League 1 and 2.
Mark Tyler
Tyler was a Peterborough United at the time of the game’s release, a club that he would end up spending over 20 years of his career serving. In the game, Tyler was a very solid buy for those navigating the lower leagues of English football and would develop into a very able keeper.
In real life, Tyler would appear in well over 400 matches for The Posh and would also serve Luton Town with distinction, appearing over 250 times for The Hatters and helping them to promotion back into the Football League. In 2016 he returned to Peterborough and has taken on the role of goalkeeping coach since.
Mike Duff – Cheltenham
Duff was a must-sign for those starting a new save. Available for as little as £30000 from Cheltenham Town, he would go on to become one of the finest right backs of a generation.
Duff has been known to win multiple Ballon d’Or trophies and lead his team to glory. In real life, Duff was a stalwart for two football clubs: Cheltenham Town and Burnley.
The defender played over 300 games for both clubs, including two seasons with Burnley in the Premier League, and earned 24 international caps for Northern Ireland.
Duff was appointed Cheltenham manager in September 2018 and led the Robins to promotion into League One in 2021 and their highest-ever league finish in 2022 before leaving for newly relegated Barnsley. The Tykes currently sit 4th in League One, 5 points off the automatic promotion places.
Despite the lack of Balon d’Or wins and not swapping Cheltenham for Catalunya, Duff had a very good career and has made a very promising start to his time as a manager.
As managers we give a lot of love to Mike Duff.
Not just because he will give you a good return of goals and assists at all levels, not just because he returns a fantastic average rating at all levels.
We love him because he does not ask for much.
Stay classy Mike! #cm0102 pic.twitter.com/T9bjU5tct1
— Championship Manager 01/02 (@cm0102legends) September 3, 2019
Jamie Victory
Whisks not reaching the heights of Mike Duff, Victory was an excellent option at left back for teams in Division 1 and below.
In the real world, Victory started life at West Ham United before a short spell at Bournemouth and signing for Cheltenham Town in 1996 where he remained until his retirement in 2007.
Following retirement, the former full-back has had a stint coaching at the Cheltenham academy but became a radiologist in Gloucestershire.
Justin Walker
Walker starts the game at Lincoln City and is quickly the subject of multiple transfer bids from higher up the pyramid.
From big-spending league rivals Rushden and Diamonds to Tottenham Hotspur of the Premier League, the midfielder is a very desirable option and continues to improve. He was perhaps best suited to the leagues below the Premier Division.
Away from the virtual world, Walker began his career as a youngster with Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest in the early 90s before a move so Scunthorpe beckoned in 1997.
He would move on to Lincoln City in 2000 and won the Player of the Year award in 2000-01 before leaving at the end of his contract, in part due to the ITV Digital collapse.
Upon leaving The Imps, Walker would embark on something of a relegation tour, falling through the trapdoor with Exeter City in 2003, as a loan player with York City in 2004 and with Cambridge United in 2005.
His next move, to Chester City, was looking like yet another relegation until the club rallied and pulled themselves clear. Walker would drop into non-league with Ilkeston Town and then the newly regenerated FC Halifax Town.
Following retirement, he worked in coaching under Philip Cocu and Wayne Rooney at Derby County before following Liam Rosenior to Hull City as joint assistant manager.
Now Delvecchio or Walker behind Dublin and Amoah? Or Bench Dublin? pic.twitter.com/hf8IAzGUY3
— Championship Manager 01/02 (@cm0102legends) September 30, 2020
Tonton Zola Moukoko
A truly legendary figure of Championship Manager 01/02, Moukoko was a 30-goal-a-year man if you could prise him away from Derby County.
Moukoko’s real-life story is one of tragedy. He lost both his parents at the tender age of 10 and his older brother Fedo became his mentor and persuaded Tonton to join him in Europe. He signed for Swedish giants Djurgarden and his talent attracted interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, among them Bologna and AC Milan. It was, however, Derby County that successfully brought the youngster to England. His virtual reputation preceded him and he soon had fans chasing his autograph despite never playing for the first team.
Tragedy would strike again when Moukoko would lose his mentor and brother, who died on a trip back to Congo. Upon returning to Sweden, he took a break from football and would eventually find himself at Carlstad United thanks to an intervention from England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.
He would spend time in Sweden and Finland before eventually retiring at 28. Since retiring, Moukoko has formed his own football team in Stockholm called Kongo United FC and acts as an agent for young Swedish players looking to make their way in Europe.
At this rate Raheem Sterling might be as good Tonton Zola Moukoko one day #ENGKOS #cm0102
— Championship Manager 01/02 (@cm0102legends) September 10, 2019
Writer’s View
What a game this was and still is! Way before the in-depth complexities that we see now and some may say lacking detail but who cares!
So many hidden gems, from the likes of Cherno Samba, Maxim Tsigalko and To Madeira to those mentioned above and more. A certain generation will remember this incredibly fondly, and the stars of the game are still revered despite their real-life careers never matching their virtual ones.
I would love to know who had some eventual world-beaters that started their journey in the EFL.
