Atlanta United has a new designated player in center forward Emmanuel Latte Lath. Known for his speed, Latte Lath will look to bring his ferocious goal scoring to Atlanta.
The Ivory Coast international touched down in Atlanta this week and his introduction has been, like his playing style, nonstop. Latte Lath toured Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training, conducted his first interviews, and even got married to boot.
To stay on theme with this need for speed, here are 17 quick questions we asked to get to know Atlanta United’s latest acquisition:
So, first things first, why Atlanta United?
They gave me interest, big interest. How they spoke to me and how I can be important. I got really excited because I saw myself and thought I could do something big.
You landed and immediately took tours of the facilities – the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. What did you think?
In Europe, you don’t find many facilities like this one. The Training Ground is really, really big. I can feel at home. Like I came in this morning, and I felt like I was coming home.
With the stadium, my face was like 😮 Wow. It's big, massive. I’ve never seen anything like it. In Europe, I played in big stadiums, but this one is really amazing. Unbelievable. Wow. The whole day, I was like Wow. Really wow.
We know you’re a goal-scoring machine. How would you describe your playing style?
Rapid. Fast. I like to run in behind the defender.
English is just one of five languages you speak. How did you learn to master so many languages?
At school, I was really bad. I wasn’t the first one in the school. The thing that helped me was football. Because you have many players, they come from everywhere, so we can teach each other a lot and you speak it. With French, I was born in Ivory Coast so that’s my mother language. Italian because I grew up there since I was eight years old. English, I learned it when I was playing at St. Gallen in Switzerland. I was speaking just English with the guys, even German there a little bit. I speak a little German. And I speak Spanish with my girlfriend.
Out of these languages, what’s one of your favorite phrases to speak?
In English they say, “Innit.”
Chief Soccer Officer & Sporting Director Chris Henderson has noted the importance of designated players, saying they should carry the team. How would you describe the way you lead?
I can be a leader without being a captain because I like to help my teammates, but I also like when they help me. During the games, there are many emotions, and you need to understand how to speak with your teammates because it’s easy to say something and maybe they take it the wrong way and to make peace offering to each other. Try to be calm and understand what they try to tell you, even if they scream at you, just understand people. I can see myself in leadership about communication with the team.
What brings you the most joy out of playing soccer?
To score goals. I can’t lie. I run. Many players don’t like to run. And I can tell you the truth, sometimes I don’t like to run. But if I run, I score. And I like to score.
You’ve lived all over the world on a few different continents. What does home mean to you?
Wherever I played, they left me something. They gave me something. So, I can say everywhere is my home. But my real home is Ivory Coast because I have everything there. My family, friends, I was born there. For me, Ivory Coast is my heart.
What was your earliest childhood soccer memory?
It was in Ivory Coast, where I was born. I started playing with my friend on the ground in the street without boots. That day started everything. I miss a little bit this type of football because it was free. No rules. Just play with your friend. Now, it’s more like a job.
How do you like to prepare for a match, any pregame rituals?
I change a bit because in Italy, they’re more serious. But me, I don’t like to be too serious because I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. I like to laugh, listen to music.
What number will you be wearing for Atlanta United?
19. There’s a nine and a one because I hope that I will be the first one [at the No. 9 position].
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
The best was from my mom. My career was really, really up and down, most of the time. And the advice my mom gave me was to never, never, never look at the bad things. Just keep the good thing until you will see slowly, slowly it will come. I bring that every day with me.
You're 26 years old, so there's a lot ahead of you, but what’s been the most memorable moment of your soccer career so far?
My best memory is when I was 18 years old, I scored against Juventus. It was a Cup game. I was playing for Atalanta. For me to be 18 years old in school with the biggest team in Italy is a memory I’ll never, never forget it, because I remember the emotion I had when I scored. I can’t really forget it. It was the best moment I have.
Off the pitch, is there an aspect of Atlanta culture you’re looking forward to checking out?
NBA. I want to see NBA and baseball. Really, there are many things I want to see. In Europe, you see about America just on video. But now that I’m here, I want to see everything, but the first thing is the NBA.
If you weren’t playing professional soccer, what would you be doing?
I think I would be a mechanic because I studied this a lot.
You said you were in awe of seeing Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the first time. How do you imagine it will be once it’s filled with supporters for the home opener on February 22?
I saw some pictures and some video, and I think the environment will be massive, massive, massive. The fans also that are with me, I’m waiting for them. I want to see them. I’m impatient, but I won’t have to wait so long.
Finally, what else do you want the 17s to know about you?
I know this transfer market was long, but finally I’m here, and I can’t wait to see everybody at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. And we’ll really, really, really enjoy it. I’ll score a lot of goals, and we’ll finish every day with a smile.
