Law studies rather than the stereotypical footballer’s pursuits of Snapchat and sports cars take up his time off the pitch, the imposing Australian centre-back likely to instead be found buried inside a pile of case notes.
The legal profession awaits once the boots are hung up. But at 25-years-old and with a first foreign adventure to look forward to now a two-year deal in Ras Al Khaimah has been signed, his priorities currently firmly lie in raising the floundering Falcons up the Arabian Gulf League table during 2016/17.
“My parents are both academics, so I left school initially without a club and decided to go to university as a Plan B,” he tells Sport360 after Saturday’s gruelling first pre-season training session. “As a footballer, you do have a lot of down time.
“It is a thinking game and players can get caught up with FIFA games. I think it is important to mentality stimulate your mind, especially when you live in a foreign country.
“I enjoy it and I hope it is something I transition to. I am very early on in my studies, I’ve only completed seven or eight units out of 32.
“There are different types of footballers. I like to think I have some type of intellect, but make no mistake, all I think about during the day is football. But at night time, I will read some case notes rather than playing FIFA.”
New boss #Bucker showing off his skills alongside @ZacAnderson4 at @Emirates_FC training @Sport360 https://t.co/WDcV6jUsqv
— Matt Monaghan (@mattmonaghan360) July 16, 2016
Anderson arrives in the UAE after a mid-career crisis gripped him at Sydney FC. Steady progress at Gold Coast United and Central Coast Mariners saw him snapped up by the A-League’s glamour side in July 2015, only for mentor Graham Arnold to grant a dispiriting nine runouts in all competitions.
There are plenty of examples available to now believe a fresh start in the UAE will bring reward.
Australians have traditionally excelled here. Sydney captain Alex Brosque – who provided counsel once overtures were made – lifted the 2012/13 top-flight title and 2014 President’s Cup at Al Ain, while a stellar three-year spell for revered playmaker Brett Holman concluded at Emirates in May after previously leading Al Nasr to silverware.
Bani Yas midfielder Mark Milligan also remains a regular for the Socceroos and Anderson thanks his predecessors for the impression they have made.
He says: “Brosque is a fantastic mentor of mine. As is Brett Holman and Mark Milligan.
“I have spoken to all the Australian boys and they’ve got a great reputation out here. One of the reasons why I got this opportunity is the legacy they have left.
“I am here to create my own legacy and uphold that strong Australian name which we are building out here.”
Congratulations to big boi @ZacAnderson4 on his move to the UAE with Emirates FC #PicoriSweats #Birkenstock 👊🏼✌🏼️🤘🏼 pic.twitter.com/bEOkypYCel
— Brent Griffiths (@brent_griff) June 30, 2016
The other headline arrival for Emirates is coach Theo Bucker, with the club taking advantage of a contractual wrangle to snap up the sprightly Middle Eastern veteran who impressed so much by keeping new boys Dibba Al Fujairah up last term.
“I only met him for the first time at training, but I’ve spoken to him a few times on the phone,” Anderson says. “You can soak up his passion for football and love for the game, which is so important when you are working with someone every day.
“I feel like I needed to be on my toes for the whole session, as I thought he was going to outrun me. I have to prove to him and the players I can do a job for the team.”
A nail-biting season under Paulo Comelli saw Emirates cling onto their AGL status on goal difference in 12th place. With promoted clubs Hatta and Ittihad Kalba moving quickly in the summer market and Sharjah landing the marquee buy of prolific Al Ittihad striker Gelmin Rivas, competition at the bottom will be fierce.
Yet this is not a prospect which daunts Anderson, who takes inspiration from Leicester City’s shock run to the 2015/16 Premier League title.
He says: “I have been living in Ras Al Khaimah for about 10 days now, so I have had a bit of time to acclimatise to the heat and meet a few of the staff.
“I think it is a negative thing to put a ceiling on where this club can finish. This club has to be ambitious.
“We are going to bring in a few players, but you can’t put a ceiling on these youngsters. You can see what Leicester did.”
