-born Pulis began his career as a trainee with Portsmouth whilst his father Tony managed the club, turning professional in July 2003. Despite his father's sacking after only 10 months in charge, Anthony stayed at Fratton Park, hoping to break into the club's first team. He made just one first team appearance for Pompey, as a substitute in the 2–0 League Cup win away to Cardiff City on 9 November 2004.
Stoke City
In December 2004, after failing to make an impact on the Portsmouth first team, Anthony Pulis and teammate Lewis Buxton each signed two and a half-year contracts with the elder Pulis' side, Stoke City. Almost immediately after his arrival at Stoke, Anthony joined Torquay United on loan, making his league debut as a first-half substitute for Alex Russell as Torquay lost 2–1 at home to Stockport County on 1 January 2005. However his appearances were limited and his loan spell was cut short. Pulis once again found his first team opportunities scarce after his father was dismissed and replaced by Johan Boskamp prior to the 2005–06 season. In February 2006, he joined Doncaster Rovers on trial, however no permanent deal materialised and he returned to Stoke. Towards the end of the 2005–06 season he was loaned to Plymouth Argyle, linking up with his father for the third time in his career. After his loan spell, Pulis returned to the Britannia Stadium for the 2006–07 season, coinciding with his father's June 2006 managerial reappointment there. He moved, along with Martin Paterson, to Grimsby Town on loan on 23 November 2006. However, he made only nine appearances before his loan spell was cut short due to injury. In his second-last appearance, he was substituted at half-time as Grimsby suffered a 4–0 loss to Rochdale. The 2007–08 season started brightly for Pulis. He gained his first assist for the club, as his corner set up a Jon Parkin header in a 3–2 defeat to Southampton, however injury problems kept him sidelined for several months thereafter. He was loaned out again, on this occasion to Bristol Rovers, however he made only one appearance for the club before his loan spell was curtailed due to another injury. In his only appearance for the club, a 14-minute cameo in a 2–0 defeat to Doncaster Rovers, Pulis conceded a penalty kick and was booked.
Southampton
In August 2008 Pulis moved to Southampton on a two-year contract a free transfer. He joined League Two team Lincoln City on one-month loan in October 2009 making his debut on 10 October in a 1–0 away win against Macclesfield Town. Pulis became an instant first team regular at Lincoln but left the club when his loan contract expired on 7 January 2010. He had spent the previous six weeks on the injured list. In October 2010, he joined Stockport County on loan for a month and made his debut for the club on 9 October 2010 in a match against Gillingham, a club his father managed, in which he scored a consolation goal for Stockport. This was his first competitive goal of his eight-year career. The loan was extended into a second and third month. Pulis joined Barnet on loan in February 2011 but was sent off 29 minutes into his debut, a 3–0 defeat at home to Torquay United. Anthony Pulis was released by Southampton on 21 May 2011, having never made a first-team appearance for the club.
Aldershot Town
At the start of August 2011, it was announced that Pulis had signed for League Two side Aldershot Town, on a one-year contract. He went on to make five league and two League Cup appearances for the club, of which he only started one game.
Orlando City
In January 2012 Pulis joined USL Pro side Orlando City, Stoke's American affiliate in the third tier of the American soccer pyramid. He scored his first goal for the Lions against the Richmond Kickers in a 2–0 win. In his three seasons at Orlando, the club won one USL Pro Championship and two Commissioner's Cups. Pulis was a player-coach during his three years playing for Orlando and at the end of the 2014 season he announced his retirement from playing to move into coaching full-time.
Personal life
Pulis is a Catholic and regularly attends church. He is the son of Welsh football manager Tony Pulis.