When a player is signed by a particular manager, quite often when the boss departs, the player can be frozen out by the incoming regime.

“I had a great relationship with Theo, who was the ex Lebanon coach, but our first five or six games didn’t go to plan. He, unfortunately, got the sack.

“That made my job very difficult. The new coach came in and he brought in his own players.

“I very quickly had a lesson in life as a foreigner. So I only played a handful of games before being told they were going to replace all of us foreign players in the next window.”

Anderson remained professional, trained hard but was on the outer for the remainder of the year before flying home for Christmas.

“But I really enjoyed it. The life outside of football in Dubai, learning about a Muslim and Islamic society, understanding their values and culture was really interesting,” he recalled.

A phone call from Shane Smeltz and an agent and five days later, Anderson was back at the airport and off to Malaysia for what turned out to be an opportunity in the Malaysian Super League.

“Joining Kedah, wow, probably the most enjoyable season I’ve ever had to date.

“The fans were so amazing – we’d arrive three hours before a game with 35,000 fans in the stadium.

“I’d never experienced it before. I never had so much support than when I was with Kedah. It was overwhelming.

“Playing in Cup Finals in front of 100,000. That was where my Malaysian career kicked off.”

Three years in Malaysia and despite the politics and administration, Anderson says the fans make the league and give him hope of a brighter future.

Stints at PKNS under Dato Rajagopal and Perak with Aussie coach Mehmet Durakovic and playing alongside Brendan Gan taught him that you need to deliver as a foreigner.

“The biggest learning curve for me has been dealing with the pressure of being a foreigner abroad," he added. 

“In Australia, you’re bubble-wrapped and get that professionalism and looked after by the medical staff and get the arm around you by the assistant coach.

Anderson training with Sydney FC

“You kinda don’t have a perspective of what’s it’s like to be a professional footballer.

“My first month in Dubai, I was a 24-year-old and in the eyes of the Australian public, I was a baby. And I had the Australian media saying I had all this potential.

“But you go overseas at that age and you’re one of four or five foreigners and you are ‘the main man’.

“You’re seen as the guy that has to be the one that makes the difference. Have that X-Factor.

“So I learned very quickly that age means nothing. And you grow up very, very quickly as a man.

“You understand this is a profession that’s only going to last a few years. And if you’re not careful and not professional it can last a few days or a few weeks.”

At 28 and in his prime after racking up 35-40 games a season in Malaysia, Anderson is reviewing his options four years after landing in Dubai.

With sporty parents, the muscular Anderson always gravitated towards sport and went through the QAS football program, but he continues to dabble in studying a law degree.

Who knows where the law may take him, but for now, after a short stint in UAE and three years in Malaysia, he’s looking to broaden his playing horizons once more.

Anderson added: “I left Australia to go on a little bit of an adventure and it’s definitely been fantastic.

“But now I’m looking at the next chapter.”