ALASTAIR Clarkson is unlikely to take on a coaching or football role at another club, according to AFL.com.au's Damian Barrett, which would bring an end to one of the most successful careers in the history of the VFL/AFL.

Clarkson was sacked by North Melbourne on Wednesday in a shock decision, with his four-season tenure at the Kangaroos ending with a year left to run on his contract.

One of the most decorated coaches of all time, Clarkson leaves the Roos with a record of 472 games at AFL level, the eighth-most of all-time, and four premierships with Hawthorn.

But after 21 seasons as a head coach, Clarkson is unlikely to take on another role at a football club, according to Barrett.

"No one is giving him another job now. It just gets to that stage of a person's trajectory through the game," Barrett said on AFL Daily on Wednesday.

"There's a reference (in his statement) about being involved for 40 years and now is time for a new chapter ... to me, that's him saying he's done.

"No one is going to be knocking down the door for Alastair Clarkson to coach their club.

"Footy has a way of finding roles for people like Alastair Clarkson in senior management. But Clarkson's persona, he's not one to sit second or third in an org chart. So I don't expect to see him again, and he's had an amazing career."

Barrett said the turmoil during the latter stages of Clarkson's time at Hawthorn, and his lack of success at the Roos, should not tarnish his legacy as an all-time great of the game.

"The latter years of that period (at Hawthorn) were not good. He destroyed relationships there and he's got very few lasting relationships at that club, and I can't imagine him having any meaningful ones from North Melbourne. That's what happens with football people," he said.

"But if you want to isolate the actual record - four premierships is 'all-time great' areas. Yes, he hasn't won a final for a long period of time at two footy clubs. But if you go back to 2015 ... his record then of games coached and premierships won was as good has anyone has ever achieved."

In a short statement released on Wednesday afternoon, Clarkson said he was ready to start a "new chapter", but did not reveal if he wants to stay involved in the game.

"My time as coach of the North Melbourne Football Club has come to an end," Clarkson said. 

"We set out to stabilise the club and lay the foundations for a return to playing deep in September.

"The challenge was a difficult one that I embraced with my whole being.

"My family and I have been privileged to be involved in AFL football for over 40 years, but it now time for a new chapter."