PORT ELIZABETH: Oscar Tabarez would like to continue as Uruguay coach after guiding them to fourth place at the World Cup - their best finish in 40 years.

The 63-year-old - in his second spell as coach after taking them to the last 16 at the 1990 finals - is out of contract but admitted following the 3-2 defeat by Germany here that his enthusiasm for the job was greater than ever.

"I am nearer to the end of my career than the beginning, but I feel fine physically," said Tabarez, who has also turned his hand to teaching and is nicknamed `The Professor`.

"It would interest me to continue with Uruguay, but it is not the time to be speaking about that," added Tabarez, unusual among football coaches in rousing his players with literary quotes.

Tabarez, a devotee of iconic Argentinian revolutionary Che Guevara and who named a daughter Tania after Guevara`s last companion, said that he did not want to be seen to laying down terms to the national federation.

"I don`t want to give the impression that I am demanding something," said Tabarez, who has been in the post since 2006.

"But from this evening (Saturday), my contract is at an end and I am no longer national team coach. Everything will depend on the offers that may be proposed," added Tabarez, who numbers Serie A sides Cagliari and AC Milan among the clubs he has coached.

BDST: 1855hrs, July 11, 2010