But he also vowed not to stay in the background either.

"I will neither step aside nor put forward my candidature," 1986 world champion Maradona told cable broadcaster TyC Sports.

"Maybe I will never become coach of the national team as I don't know if that would go down well with the powers that be. I am not under any illusions," said Maradona.

"What I want is for Argentina to have the best," said Maradona, who in opinion polls last week was rated as a possibility to take the reins -- though way behind veteran Carlos Bianchi, former coach with Boca Juniors and who recently ended an unsuccessful stint with Atletico Madrid.

The polls published by major newspapers showed a majority of fans wanted Pekerman to stay in his post, despite the penalty shootout loss to the Germans.

Pekerman led the albiceleste to under-20 world titles in 1995, 1997 and 2001, and the 56-year-old is credited with the blooding of a raft of young stars, including Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, left on the bench for the quarterfinal.