Post-retirement
Following his retirement, he played a handful of games for Billingham Synthonia, who held a close relationship with Middlesbrough.
He also presented The Legends Football Phone-In for Real Radio North East, alongside Malcolm Macdonald (formerly of Newcastle United) and Micky Horswill (Sunderland). The programme was axed following the end of the 2011–12 season. However, on the 1st August, it was announced via a press conference with Slaven that the Legends would be returning on Morpeth based, Koast Radio; the show is scheduled to start on the 13th August, but will only feature Slaven with guest hosts until November, when MacDonald and Horswill will no longer be tied by their severance contracts with Real Radio.
He published an autobiography entitled Legend?. In August 2006, he released a DVD called Lucky Slaven, which features 90 of the Middlesbrough goals during his spell at the club. In October 2006, Slaven and his commentary partner Alastair Brownlee, won an award in New York for their commentary on Middlesbrough's UEFA Cup run in the 2005–06 season.
In 1999, Slaven bared his backside in Binns department store window in Middlesbrough following a bet on Century FM. He bet that if Middlesbrough beat Manchester United at Old Trafford, he would perform the dare. Middlesbrough ran out 3–2 winners, so Slaven had to go ahead with the dare, with the score painted on his cheeks.
In 2002, still a popular figure in the area, Slaven ran for the position of Mayor of Middlesbrough. Slaven admitted knowing little of politics and his campaign was ultimately unsuccessful.
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