Born in Pirabeiraba,[citation needed] Joinville, Santa Catarina, Emerson started his professional career with Caxias.

He won twice promotion for the Sardinian side, which followed the team being promoted to Serie C2 in 2006, which also made Emerson registered as a professional player and able to sign by any Italian professional club, as FIGC only forbidden clubs signing non-EU players from abroad and from amateur league, except Serie A clubs had one conditional quota (for replacing non-EU players that sold abroad or released).

In January 2008, Emerson was transferred to Serie C1 side Taranto Sport in co-ownership deal.

He was the regular starter of the team and scored five goals in 2009–10 Lega Pro Prima Divisione.

[5] On 30 June, the envelopes opened in Lega Pro headquarter, and Lumezzane made a higher bid to buy Emerson outright.