"Gareth Southgate's last World Cup appearance ended with one of the most memorable quotes about an England manager. It came in 2002, after defeat to Brazil, when Sven-Goran Eriksson was unable to inspire a comeback. ""We were expecting Winston Churchill and instead we got Iain Duncan-Smith,"" Southgate was quoted saying, with what he thought a private remark capturing the mood of a nation. As he follows Eriksson's path leading England on the biggest stage, I can't help wonder what kind of leader Southgate is? I doubt he will be delivering Churchillian speeches in the dressing room, but I also hope - and expect - he will be more charismatic than the colourless Duncan-Smith. Six years ago I spent time working alongside Southgate at a major tournament. I was a TV pundit with Southgate, Roberto Martinez and Roy Keane. Everyone was asking Keane and I about our management aspirations, evidently unaware of the ambition burning in Southgate to prove himself after his first stint as a head coach at Middlesbrough. He struck me as a person pretty much as a saw him as a player - polite, studious, good company and an all-round likeable bloke. He tended to sit on the fence with his opinions, so much so I can't recall him saying anything headline-grabbing or contentious when we sat on the sofa in Poland during Euro 2012. If Keane or I were going off on one, he courteously agreed or kept his thoughts to himself. Gareth Southgate gives the thumbs up after England training Credit: pa Did I think he would be managing England two World Cups later? No. He did not strike me as elite management material. I had similar misgivings when he was a player. As a centre-back playing in the same era, I admired Southgate. He won 57 England caps and was a high-quality, reliable and consistent defender. As he was so talented, I thought there must have something missing from his character preventing top-four clubs making a serious bid. With respect to Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough, they were never going to play in the Champions League. What was he lacking? My suspicion was that the top managers felt Southgate too 'nice'. That has been the overriding view of him throughout his career. For better or worse, we do not equate being a 'nice' person with being a winner. Those who succeed tend to possess an edge, even a touch of nastiness when it matters, to get where they and their clubs need to be. All the best managers have a snarl in them. Southgate's brief spell in club management at Middlesbrough did not end well, and although he impressed with England's Under 21s, few make the step up to the senior team. Russia World Cup in pictures: Best photos of teams, games and players Given these preconceptions, his appointment at the start of the World Cup qualifying campaign did not fill the country with confidence, especially as it was due to the circumstances following Sam Allardyce's sacking. It felt like England had nowhere to turn. But everything Southgate has said and done over the two years leading England to Russia has been impressive. There are subtle differences in management style which we may consider giant steps over the next month, and what really bodes well is he has shown a steel which his 'nice guy' public demeanour disguises. We can dismiss any whispers prior to his appointment that he is little more than a Football Association 'yes man'. Our presumption Southgate is not tough enough for the job may be wrong. Southgate's judgement was sharp when he first rejected the England post on an interim basis when Roy Hodgson was sacked, unwilling to hold the fort while the FA searched for someone else. It was the first sign he was prepared to make a choice that must have hurt at the time, but proved astute in ensuring he later got the role permanently. He has made big decisions over the last 12 months. Easing out England captain Wayne Rooney was skilful, as was dropping Joe Hart and Jack Wilshere on the eve of the competition. World Cup 2018 
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