Sports Interactive’s Championship Manager: Season 97/98 marked both a beginning and an end. It was to be the final game of the second generation series of Championship Manager. At the same time it marked the beginning of a new generation of Championship Manger games which introduced many features still seen today in football management simulators.
After a less than encouraging start with their original releases, Sports Interactive rose to prominence with Championship Manager 2 (which was released in 1995). Season 97/98 built upon that success and featured nine world leagues. For the first time more than one league could be played concurrently, giving players an option to try their hand at managing in a different country during their simulated managerial career.
The game was immensely popular. It was a football simulator that struck the perfect balance between realism, accessibility and fun. It also showcased new and emerging features which Sports Interactive hoped to incorporate in future versions. Because of this the game was released without copy protection in the hope that people would share the game, and then buy the next game of the series in the future. The lack of copy protection didn’t hinder sales; it still went on to become one of the bestselling games of 1997.
Following on from Season 97/98 the Championship Manager brand went from strength to strength. Best sellers followed year after year until Sports Interactive’s acrimonious split with publisher Eidos in 2003. While Eidos retained the name, Sports Interactive held onto the game database and engine. In 2005 both were successfully transferred to their Football Manger franchise. Every year since has seen a new, and bigger release, packed with more and more enhanced features. Despite this, Championship Manager: Season 97/98 still remains a game worth playing; a fun reminder of simpler time.
Review By Richard
Online Resources
Some very useful tips, hints, cheats or strategies here: http://champmannet.tripod.com/sport.htm.
Latest updates (new leagues), patches, new languages here http://www.cm97-98.eu/ (thanks jimmyd).
English 
French 
Comments and reviews
it looks so good that game of football
No, that's... when you do that with footballers, like he said about Leeds, and when you do things like that about a man like Stuart Pearce, I've kept really quiet, but I'll tell you something, he went down in my estimation when he said that. We have not resorted to that, but I'll tell you, you can tell him now if you're watching it, we're still fighting for this title, and he's got to go to Middlesbrough and get something, and... and... I'll tell you, honestly, I will love it if we beat them. Love it.
I wanted to download this game, but Windows deemed it dangerous and wouldn't let me. Please do something. Thank you :(
I used to play this game alot! To the creators of this game, thank you for your greatness.
for those having issues getting it to run, here's what I did (Windows 10):
Mounted the bin/cue in windows 10 and converted the image to a .iso file (I'm using WinCDEmu for both operations in this step)
once I have the iso file, and of course dosbox installed:
mount c [path on you computer where data will be stored/installed]
eg: mount c C:\OldGames
then mount the iso file:
imgmount f [path to the iso file you created] -t cdrom
eg: imgmount f C:\isofiles\CM9798.iso -t cdrom
Navigate to the mounted iso file in dosbox:
F:
install using this command:
setup
Follow the onscreen installation.
https://cm9798.wordpress.com/how-to-install-cm9798/
This link was very helpful for me to install and play the game
I know I was but a lowly Div 1 striker, but I could always use DosBox to make games work. CM2 Spanish edition, CM 9697, CM0102 - no problem.
But I'm really struggling to get this image mounting part to work for CM 97-98. Windows 10 has a mount function if you just right-click it, but then when you click SETUP the error states "this App can't run on your PC" (same if you try the LAUNCH, CM2E8 or CM2E16 files), so think it needs the DosBOX route.
I tried to follow the instructions on the page, though a bit confusing that the first folder is OLDGAMESIMAGES but then the example for mounting image is OLDGAMES and fact the file name has spaces which DOS doesn't appear to like.
On DOS have so far run:
mount f c:\OLDGAMESIMAGES
Drive F is mounted as local directory c:\OLDGAMESIMAGES\
T:\F:
F:\imgmount f c:\OLDGAMESIMAGES\CM 97-98 V2.81.iso
The image must be on a host or local drive.
F:\
So I'm stuck - I can mount the folder, but can't get the iso file working either trying to mount or using DOSbox instructions?
Thanks for the laughs Terry!
can you upload the cd version?
Faaackin' 'ell Barnsey. Give it a rest wiw ya?!
Fackin' goin' on like you fink you're some sort of fackin' rapper.
Stick wiv the football me old son!
You've got to hold and give
But do it at the right time.
You can be slow or fast
But you must get to the line.
They'll always hit you and hurt you,
Defend and attack.
There's only one way to beat them:
Get round the back.
Catch me if you can
'Cause I'm the England man
And what you're looking at
Is the master plan.
We ain't no hooligans,
This ain't a football song,
Three lions on my chest
I know we can't go wrong.
Right, you miserable lot!
Those of you on using Macs - get a facking PC or boot up into XP or something.
Those on PC - try using DBGL (DosBox Game Launcher). It makes running the facking thing much easier, without having to tit abaat wiv DOS commands and the like.
Got it?
Good.
Naa get aaat there an' make us praaad!
You seriously need to give better instructions on how to install this!!
Anyone know a good DOS emulator for Mac? DOSBox won't run as seems to get blocked by iOS for either being old or can't be virus scanned.
I get to dosbox gets installed but then to run game CM2 nor CM2E16 works. Any idea how to launch the game once installed?
epic game
the image must be on a host or local drive..
what im doing wrong?
Playing in browser and game kicks me out after 1 season during pre-season update. Anything I can do? :(
Haha, good old Gareth. Just because you got to a World Cup semi final doesn't mean you're better than I was. I'll sort you out on our next CM01/02 session!
TERRY VENABLES IS A LIAR! i put the sinatra on and he loads the game, we both then put our car keys into a bowl and then shag eachothers wife's , i never understood why we leave our keys behind though?
This is still a cracker of a game! Running three leagues at once, a myriad of stats and tactical options, and if you were no good, the famous diablo tactic. I was brilliant of course, and me and Bobby Robson (God rest his soul) used to play together on a Sunday evening. He was always Newcastle & I liked to be Spurs.
These days I like to play CM 01/02. It's still the best footie management sim to this day. Me and Gareth Southgate like to sit down of an evening, I put the Sinatra on while he loads up the game. I insist on being England (just so I can make his in-game namesake actually score penalties... haha) and he then goes for Middlesbrough. The lad done good.
U have 2 give it to u will hooked lol
Can't load new game after using editor! No mistakes, tried changing just 1 value to 1 player and didn't work!!
Hi,
this game says thank you for playing after first season and just exit. Do others experience this? Is there a workaround?
Hey, how can I make the players run in tactics on a Mac without the use of a right mouse button! So frustrating!
PLEASE HELP
New to this could anyone help me with loading this
What have you done this game? Have you been messing with the data editor, because none of the formations I used to use work anymore. Also, it doesn't seem to matter how many chances you get as its far more difficult to score goals. You have ruined the game with your tweeking.
Can't get past the command to open game.
Yes, you can use play it via magic dosbox on android
Is it available on Android devices?
i like play all games cm
trying to load on a mac any help please? have dos box but no idea what I'm doing
tnx its amezing
Hello,
What is the best tactics in cm9798?
Great
Does this work on netbooks/notebooks?
so far so good
how do you get on data editor? c:/
posso chiedere gentilmente se il gioco scudetto dopo un numero di campionati finisce e bisogna ricominciare oppure continua fino a che non elimini la partita creata .....grazie per un eventuale risposta ,grazie
is this running on Linux?
is this running on windows 10????????
YES
hello fellow 97/98 fans. i've started up a blog with stories, tactics and best players for cm9798 here - https://champinnit.wordpress.com/ please come along and help build the community for this great game!
Hi everyone...what do i have to write once i open the dos box window and i find this:
z:\
i remember there was a kind of formula.
thanks
Have download DosBox & this version of CM... Can't get it loaded on the MAC. CM is obviously coming through as a .EXE file, therefore can't unzip/unrar or load.
Ive downloaded the game but it says error, cant run in full window format.
any help??
best thing about this version of CM is that you have an editor program that allows you to edit your players. You can choose any player profile and then just edit the team name to your own. Hey presto. You can even edit attributes to make average players better, as well as editing your club attributes to raise your stadium cpacity, league level, even your cash. I took a low team Torquay, pumped them full of cash and gave them a 50,000 capacity and added Batistuta and Klinsman to the squad. Within 3 years were in the EPL and winning the CL inside 4 seasons...
to play download drop box then defriend uploaded. ez
help how do i set this up I love fm 15 etc and really really really wanna play this please help asap
many thanks
Any chance this awesome game is available on android devices?
Why does my game stop on the 15.11.97 is there anyway to play the full game?
The interesting question is how many savegames did you use?
Does anyone know if there is an app for this game? I'd love to have this on my android phone. Not played a champ manager like it since it came out. Still the best champ manager game ever made!
Still the best footy management game in my opinion. So much fun.
ok guys, here is a challenge for you. go doncaster rovers, and win the fa cup in your 2nd season, and the cup winners cup in your 3rd season,. i've done it once. i'll check back in 10 years to see if anyone done it.
Great game
Does this work
Nice
been searching this!!!
Classic
Great game
Greatest CM of all time.
Love this game so much Thank You
I have extracted the files, how do I run the game?
Best football game for a computer ever
brilliant game
my favorite manager game ever. i hope can upload cm00-01 and also ultimate soccer manager 98 world cup edition. thanks a lot :)
Awesome game! Search for the 2012-13 update and new backgrounds!
thx
Does this contain the wage patches and/or any other patches for the game please?
"All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you"
I've played it every week for the past 10 years.. help me!!!
How do I setup the game, so I can use the mouse? I run the game in D-Fend and have tried all executable files - nothing seems to work... Please help!
i remember this to play with the national team you have got to re-wright the name of the national-coach
Yeeeessssssssssssssssssssssss get in, not played this in well over 10 years! works well in dosbox, editor runs well to. set yer dosbox cycles to about 6500 and it'll run at a good pace for you. So happy right now
You gang of legends! Still the best game ever by far!!!
If I'd spent my time learning the guitar instead of playing this I'd be awesome by now, but I would know nothing of the Scottish 3rd Division 15 years ago. ALLOA...LALALA...ALLOA...LA LA LA LAAAAAAA!
Gracias a todos
No comment nor review for this game at the moment.