Argentina coach Diego Maradona is to be offered a new four-year contract. The Argentinian Football Association (AFA) has announced the plan, and the organisation's president Julio Grondona will meet with the 49-year-old next week.

Should he accept the offer, Maradona, whose team lost 4-0 to Germany in the FIFA World Cup™ quarter-finals, will have the chance to lead his country again in four years' time, when the global tournament is staged in Brazil.

The AFA executive committee met to discuss Maradona's future and determined he remains the right man to command the national team. Grondona intends to meet with Maradona no later than next Wednesday to discuss the contract extension.

In his playing days, Maradona led Argentina to victory at Mexico 1986, but he was a controversial appointment as coach in late 2008 due to having little experience. He nevertheless led La Albiceleste to qualification for South Africa, thanks to a late winning goal in their final qualifier away to Uruguay.

Argentina looked serious contenders to win the Trophy until they were soundly beaten by Germany. "I may leave tomorrow," was Maradona's immediate response to the defeat.

But he added: "We will see what happens. I haven't thought about leaving. I have to check that with my family and the players and there are things I have to consider."