The game was released for PC Windows in March 2003 and then on the Mac on 17 May 2003.

It was strongly anticipated by fans of the series, mainly due to the inclusion of a graphical 2D match-engine for the first time in a Championship Manager game.

[citation needed] Upon its release, it became the fastest selling PC game of all time in the UK, outselling the nearest best selling PC title, Command & Conquer: Generals, by around two to one.

[3] Championship Manager 4 received a "Platinum" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA),[4] indicating sales of at least 300,000 copies in the United Kingdom.

[6] During the 7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Championship Manager 4 for "Computer Sports Game of the Year", which was ultimately awarded to Madden NFL 2004.