There aren’t many players in modern football at the moment who can boast of the sort of experience that Union Berlin forward Emmanuel Latte Lath has. From making his debut in Italy for Atalanta to playing in different countries such as Switzerland, the USA, England, and now playing in Germany, Emmanuel’s career has been quite a journey so far. In a chat with NDTV, the Ivory Coast striker reflected on a career defined by resilience, steady growth, and continuous learning; the forward shared insights on his personal journey and his mindset on leadership.
What followed was a series of loan spells across Italy with clubs such as Pescara, Carrarese, Pro Patria, and SPAL, before a breakout stint at Swiss side St. Gallen and a standout spell at Middlesbrough in England. It was his stint in the English Championship that made MLS side Atlanta United break the bank for him, making him their record-breaking transfer. However, things didn’t work out quite well for him there. “Take more decisions for myself, not let people take decisions for me. However, when Union played against defending champions Bayern Munich, it turned out to be a lifelong lesson in football. for Emmanuel, such fixtures offer the opportunity of an invaluable lesson masterclass, especially as he came up against the likes of Harry Kane , Michael Olise , and others While the club would want to forget that match.
Emmanuel’s senior career began at Atalanta in 2016. Emmanuel opened his Bundesliga goalscoring account with a strike in the 3-3 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt. Bayern won the game 7-0, handing Union one of their worst defeats in history.
This is the main thing I can say to young Emmanuel,” he said.
For a player who spent years moving between clubs on temporary assignments before proving his goalscoring credentials, taking full ownership of his career decisions has proven to be quite a learning experience. “I think I’ll always be a leader, but not with the captain’s armband. As a striker, I’m the first defender. So I want to bring this, the hunger I have to win games or to be competitive. These things help me, and I want the team to follow me.”
