England kick off their World Cup campaign against Tunisia on Monday evening, and there's one man who was once touted as the Three Lions brightest prospect that has fallen off the radar in recent years.

It's almost 12 years to the day that a 24-year-old Joe Cole brought a nation to its feet after his famous goal against Sweden at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Taking a Swedish clearance on his chest in the 33rd minute, the ball sat up perfectly for Cole 30 yards out, and the then-Chelsea man launched a jaw-dropping volley into the top corner to lift the roof off the Müngersdorfer Stadion in Cologne.

Cole had the world at his feet around that time, being not only a mainstay in Jose Mourinho's title-winning Blues team but a regular on the left wing for his nation under Sven-Goran Eriksson.

After an injury-plagued 2006-07 season, Cole got back to his best under Avram Grant at club level in 2008, but it can't be argued that for all the potential he had as a youngster, he never hit the very top level that he should have done.

Cole departed Chelsea in 2010 for an unsuccessful stint at Liverpool, which included a loan spell at French club Lille in 2011, before rejoining his boyhood club West Ham United in 2012.

That association only lasted two years, as he moved on to Aston Villa, and after a spell at League One side Coventry City, Cole took his career back overseas as he linked up with American side Tampa Bay Rowdies.

And it has been revealed that Cole's taken the next step in his career off-the-field as he winds down his time on the pitch.

Following in the footsteps of former team-mates Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, Cole will take a management role at the Rowdies, but he won't be the head coach, that job belongs to former Wolves and Leeds defender Neill Collins.

Instead, Cole will become assistant manager, but making his first steps to becoming a manager will make him a more attractive proposition to clubs back in England next season should the 36-year-old want to return to the country.

One thing is for sure though, the current Three Lions team might just need someone with a moment of magic like Cole produced on that night in Germany as they look to bring glory back to the British isles.