AT THE age of 64, and with a 40-year career in football under his belt, Denis Pagan could now be enjoying a relaxed retirement.

But putting his feet up is not something that appeals to the two-time North Melbourne premiership coach.

Instead, Pagan has jumped into a new vocation: working as a real estate agent in Melbourne's northern suburbs with his son, Ryan.

"It was amazing how it all occurred," said Pagan, who is profiled in the latest episode of the AFL.com.au series, Life After Footy.

"I was looking for something to go into. Obviously doors had closed in football.

"I made a few inquiries and nothing was forthcoming. So my son, who is a very good real estate agent, said, 'Dad, why don't you come into business with me?'

"We both got our full licences. It nearly killed me. It probably took five and a half months with assignments and studying and that sort of stuff."

The relationship between father and son is now far different than when Ryan was playing at North Melbourne under his Dad.

"We have a few blues," Ryan joked. "But it's good fun. The thing is that he's not the coach at the moment.

"He's only been in it a year, so he's the pupil. And he doesn't adapt to that too well."

Pagan played 120 for North Melbourne and 23 for South Melbourne during a VFL career that he humbly describes as "ordinary".

But he enjoyed plenty of success as a coach. He led the Kangaroos' under-19s to five premierships, then spent a year at Essendon, guiding the Bombers' reserves to the 1992 flag.

In 1993 Pagan returned to North Melbourne as senior coach. He led the Roos to the finals in his first season at the helm, then guided them to seven consecutive preliminary finals.

His favourite football memories are lifting the premiership cup alongside Wayne Carey in 1996 and 1999.

However, he doesn't recall the five and a half seasons he spent at Carlton so fondly.

The Blues won two wooden spoons during Pagan's tenure, which lasted from 2002 until midway through the 2007 season.

"From day one it just didn't work out," he recalled.

Pagan finished his coaching career with a short stint at TAC Cup club Northern Knights.

"I was obsessed with football," he said. "Now I really enjoy footy. I'm grateful for what it gave me.

"But I'm in this now and I'm totally obsessed with real estate."