“I wanted to be the best at everything. That's how I tackled every task — even as a simple warehouse worker. I said to myself: I'm only a warehouse worker, but then I want to be the best warehouse worker there is here. ” This is someone who doesn't avoid challenges but accepts them, no matter how big or small they seem.
Altin Lala was born in 1975 in Tirana. Even as a child, soccer was his passion, he played for Dinamo Tirana, but life in Albania was anything but easy at the beginning of the 90s. At just 15 years of age, Lala fled alone to Germany in 1991 and suddenly found herself in a completely new country — without family, without friends, without language skills.
In Germany, he worked, among other things, as a warehouse worker. But instead of struggling, Lala made a decision: If he's already doing this job, then he wants to be the best at it. This attitude was a recurring thread throughout his career.
Football remained Lala's great passion. He quickly stood out for his ambition and tireless work. In 1998, he started playing for Hannover 96. This was followed by 14 years in the Red shirt, over 320 competitive matches and finally he wore the captain's armband for three years.
More than soccer: entrepreneurs with heart and vision
After the end of his active career, Lala could have sat back and relax. But standing still isn't really his thing. Together with Dirk Rossmann, he ventured on a new adventure: They brought the first drugstores to Albania. “Rossmann & Lala” became the company's most successful foreign investment — and that in a country where there were hardly any modern drugstores before.
Lala knew the needs of people in his home country, knew the challenges and opportunities. He set himself the task with the aim of being the best here as well. Today, “Rossmann & Lala” is a showcase project.
An evening full of inspiration
Altin Lala's visit to Hanover was an evening that was encouraging and showed how much you can achieve with the right attitude — regardless of where you come from or what the circumstances are.
Thanks for this inspiring evening and to all co-organizers who make such meetings possible: Engel & Völkers Commercial Hannover with Christian Palis and Steffen Schroth, Weser-Wohnbau GmbH & Co.KG with Markus Menjacki and the Interhomes AG!
