There are managers in the making the second they step onto a football pitch, according to Kit Symons.
And there are those who surprise by swapping action for the aggro that comes with the top job.
The new Fulham man in charge reckons Uwe Rosler falls into the second category.
The ex-Brentford boss will be in the opposite dugout at the DW Stadium when the Whites take on Wigan - Symons’ first game as permanent manager - and was painfully reminded when both he and Rosler were scorers and losers on the same day.
Rewind to May 5, 1996 and Symons, Rosler and Manchester City believed they only needed a draw at Liverpool to save themselves from the Premier League plunge.
Rosler scored from a penalty. Symons thought he had become a hero when he cancelled out a Steve Lomas own goal and a second from Ian Rush.
But it all went wrong when ex-QPR midfielder Lomas started playing keep-ball in the corner only to learn Southampton and Coventry, also trying to avoid the third drop spot, had done enough to save themselves.
One of the men who gave Symons the Fulham job on Wednesday, Niall Quinn, screamed at Lomas to go for the win - but it was too late, and City went down with QPR on goal difference.
“That was a horrible day,” said Symons. “But it was a great day when I got the Fulham job.
“Uwe as an obvious manager in the future? Not necessarily.
“He was student of the game, but it’s hard to tell sometimes. Some are obvious ones. Chris Coleman was captain here at Fulham and a great leader of men.
“Maybe I didn’t see it initially, but there were traits in them now that helped make them a great manager and Uwe was one of those.
“Me? I always saw myself as a manager.”
Keep up to date with all the build-up, matchday and post-game reaction to Wigan Athletic v Fulham right here on GetWestLondon
