Over many years and countless editions, Championship Manager and Football Manager have provided us with countless iconic players and legendary finds.
Admittedly, not all—or many—of these hidden gems became great players in their own right, but all will forever hold a fond place in gamers’ hearts for their exploits on the world’s finest sports management simulator series of all time.
In this feature, we track down the teenage prodigies, the next big things and the magnificent stalwarts to have graced the game over the years on social media.
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This is the article to read if you’re keen on rediscovering your heroes, following them on Twitter, or sending them a message of love on Facebook.
Taribo West
As his Twitter bio proudly proclaims, Taribo West is a “Nigerian Football Icon…Championship Manager Legend…Part-Time Pastor…Olympic Gold Medallist 96.”
It’s not a bad resume, and on CM 01/02, the centre-back emerged as one of the greatest free agents the game has ever known.
Get in touch with Taribo West on his Facebook page.
Freddy Adu
The onetime USA wonderkid has become a byword for young starlets whose careers hit the skids, as Adu never truly delivered on his immense early promise.
Now 26, the Ghana-born star has featured 17 times for the United States, but has never truly settled at one club.
Join Freddy Adu’s 392k Twitter followers by following him @FreddyAdu or get in touch on his Facebook.
Matthew Etherington
Unlike many other players on this list, Etherington has actually enjoyed a half decent midfielder, and is at least a solid—occasionally impressive—Premier League operator. Back in Football Manager, however, he was the answer to England’s problems on the left flank and developed into one of the greatest wingers in the world.
Check out Matthew Etherington’s official Twitter account, or get in touch on Facebook.
Tommy Svindal Larsen
Back in the glory days of CM 97/98, Tommy Svindal Larsen was a glorious midfield talent who could simply dominate games when sat just in front of the back four. He could protect defenders with a tireless energy and discipline, and could spray passes with the best of them.
Check out the former Norway international’s Facebook page here.
Kennedy Bakircioglu
An exquisite playmaker with the pace and close control of Alfredo Di Stefano and the power of Pele. While his name may not suggest it, Bakircioglu is Swedish and currently features for Hammarby in his homeland.
Get in touch with Kennedy Bakirioglu on Facebook, or let him know of your appreciation on Twitter.
Maxim Tsigalko
One of FM’s finest poaches, the Belarussian hitman emerged at Dinamo Minsk on CM 01/02 and was capable of embarking on immense scoring runs. I don’t know how many times I’ve returned to Belarus on subsequent scouting missions to track down a new Tsigalko only to be disappointed. He was one of a kind.
Check out this wonderful Maxim Tsigalko Appreciation Society, chronicling some of his most miraculous achievements.
Cherno Samba
Another hero of CM 01/02, Samba was consistency personified in front of goal. As a youth player, Samba cultivated a remarkable scoring record, but things didn’t quite work out for the Gambian, whose career petered out as he arrived at his late 20s.
According to his Twitter account, Cherno Samba is currently a player coach…unemployed, we suspect.
Serge Makofo
A genuine hero of CM4, Makofo was a striker who could be plucked from MK Dons for next to nothing and boasted the versatility to make a contribution across the park. In real life, it didn’t quite work out, and Makofo ended up playing for the likes of Grimsby and Potters Bar Town.
But we prefer to remember the happier times.
Get in touch with Serge Makofo on Twitter.
Tonton Zola Moukoko
A name that sends shivers down the spine of anyone who played CM 99/00 and got their hands on this Congolese-born Swedish superstar.
Some called him the Maradona of the Midlands, and for a fee of £500k, you couldn’t go wrong.
To read fellow testimonies of players’ experience of Tonton, check out this Tonton Zola Moukoko fanpage on Facebook.
It’s hard to find the man himself as so many people have named themselves (or their children) after him in homage.