It started in 2018. As the England men's football team charged to the semi-finals of the World Cup, the crowds at Russia started a new chant. But it was not about England, its players or its opponents.

Fans transformed the 2001 smash hit Whole Again by girl group Atomic Kitten into a celebration of England manager Gareth Southgate. They sang: "Southgate, you're the one / You still turn me on / Football's coming home again". 

When England reached the finals of Euro 2020 last year, the chants got even louder. And on Sunday, when England face SenegalA country in west Africa with a population of 17 million. in the 2022 World Cup last 16, they might be louder still.

Southgate has become a hero for millions of England fans. And not just because of his team's successes after years of pain. Southgate is beloved for his decency. 

In the Times, columnist Ben Machell called him "mild, capable, patient and sincere". He is one of the few things a country divided by Brexit and the cost of livingThe money that someone needs to afford basic food, housing and clothes. crisis can agree on.

It shines through in his trust for his players. Take Harry Maguire. The centre-back has struggled at Manchester United all season. Fans called for Southgate to cut him from his squad. Yet Southgate trusted him. And Maguire has gone on to play a vital role in England's group stage games. 

Southgate's decency also shines in his devotion to good causes. He has condemned racist and anti-LGBT+ abuse. He joined his team in taking the kneeA symbolic gesture against racism. to support Black Lives MatterA political movement which aims to challenge police brutality and racism towards black people all across the world, usually using protests and other means of activism..

Decency has long been seen as a virtue. But some think it is now the most important virtue of all. Social media has empowered controversial opinions. The clear goodness of a man like Southgate stands out by contrast.

Things are similar in politics. In the 2020 US election, Joe Biden's decency was contrasted with the danger and chaos of the Trump era. When Biden won, British politician Ed MilibandThe British Labour party leader from 2010 to 2015. tweeted: "A victory for decency."

Few would argue that decency is a bad thing. But decent people often find themselves outgunned by their more cunning enemies.

As the British prime minister Harold MacMillanThe Conservative prime minister of the UK from 1957 to 1963. once said: "Decency is very good... but I don't think it's enough."¹ It needs to be paired with other virtues - courage, wisdom, proactivity - to be effective.

Yes: In a world of dangers and threats, Southgate's calm decency is a breathe of fresh air. His decency gives us a model of how we should behave if we want to create a better, fairer society. 

No: Decency is a force for good. But it is a quiet one. Decent people make the world a better place, but they seldom transform it. The greatest virtues are those which help us to shout loudly. 

Or... Virtues are shaped by time and place. What is best in one situation is not necessarily the best in another. It follows that decency is sometimes the most important virtue, and sometimes the least.