Jose Maria Olazabal still wants to be part of the next Ryder Cup team rather than captain of it.
The 42-year-old Spanish star, who was Nick Faldo's assistant in the Louisville defeat, is seen as a natural leader of the side at a future point.
But Olazabal, who has been struggling with rheumatism and fatigue in the past year, said: "I am still hoping that I will be recovered completely from what I am going through.
"If that's the case I want to be playing. That's where I'm at at the moment.
"Only time will tell how quickly I recover and how well I can play again, but if I'm asked for a decision later this year that might be a little early."
European officials will meet in the next few months to discuss the successor to Faldo, who was in charge for the biggest American victory since 1981 and the first European loss since 1999.
Sandy Lyle has let it be known he is interested and Olazabal commented: "Sandy has done a lot of good things for European golf."
Ian Woosnam, captain for the nine-point victory in Ireland in 2006, gave an interview in which he said that for the first match on Welsh soil - at Celtic Manor near Newport in two years' time - he would consider doing the job again if approached and if the players wanted him.
However, the chairman of the players' committee, which makes a recommendation to the Europe Ryder Cup Board, is now Thomas Bjorn, the man who lashed out at Woosnam after not being given a wild card.
The Dane will be a candidate for the role himself, but is currently only 37, while Paul McGinley, originally a vice-captain to Faldo before resigning to try to make the side, is 41.
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