Stop the presses! This is absolutely massive news for anyone who remembers staying up way too late staring at a green screen, desperate to find the next wonderkid and finance them with a cheeky sale. For us who were utterly obsessed with the 97/98 edition of Championship Manager, this is a huge moment.
The dedicated folks behind ManagerOld have just released The Modern Era version of Championship Manager 1997-98! This isn’t just a quick patch; this is a genuine labour of love that pulls arguably the most beloved entry in the series into the present day.
Now you can win it all with modern tactics
Forget your glory days of juggling a squad that included legends like Adrian Ilie, Eric Cantona, Juninho, Michael Owen, and Ronaldo—or whatever international giants you managed to cram into your starting XI. And forget trying to recreate that magical, slightly exploitable cross-field full-backs tactic that saw you win everything in sight (man, I won *everything* with that).
Now, you get to do it all over again with modern stars!
This update preserves the classic aesthetic we crave while making massive changes under the bonnet:
- Modern Start Date: The game now kicks off in 2024.
- Massive Player Roster: It includes a huge 38,000 updated players, so you’ll be scouting current stars and future wonderkids instead of long-retired names.
- Expanded World: You now get 28 playable leagues.
- Engine Tweaks: There are “lots of GFX updates and tweaks to the game engine,” ensuring a smoother, more stable experience without sacrificing that critical, text-based charm.
The guy behind this, @ManagerOld, has clearly poured a huge amount of effort into this, saying he truly hopes fans enjoy playing it as much as he enjoyed updating it.
Get the guide and start playing
If you’re eager to get your hands on this and start signing those modern-day titans—and maybe find a new, equally clever tactical glitch—you should know that the developer will be releasing detailed articles and tutorials soon. These will cover everything from explaining the work done to providing installation guides and different configurations for alternative devices.
You’ll find all those articles and tutorials over on the ManagerOld Patreon page.
If you were ever hooked on this specific era of management games, this Modern Era update is absolutely essential. Time to dust off those tactical notebooks, find the new equivalent of a cross-field full-back tactical masterstroke, and prepare for the 2024 season!
Like old football management games? Here’s how I installed Championship Manager 99/00 on Linux. These instructions should work on Steam Deck, too.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through those links. This comes at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
