SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Earthquakes Academy players Angel Heredia and ¬Nedin Tucakovic accepted invitations to join the US U-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla. for the upcoming school year. The duo will live and train on the IMG Academy campus until summer of 2012 before rejoining San Jose’s youth system.
Heredia (San Jose, Calif.) recently wrapped up the Quakes' first season at the USSF Development Academy level. Heredia was discovered in the club's Pre-Academy program, but became a key addition to the U-16s after being called up in March. In 15 games, he scored one goal and had 10 assists while playing as an attacking midfielder.
Tucakovic (Los Gatos, Calif.) is the second Quakes Academy goalkeeper in as many years to enter residency. He enjoyed a breakout season in 2010-11 after being named to Olympic Development Program teams at the regional and national levels.
Last year, Earthquakes goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh (Santa Rosa, Calif.) trained with the U-17 Residency Program and started for a U.S. squad that reached the Round of 16 at the U-17 World Cup in Mexico.
The program’s alumni include: Bobby Convey (San Jose Earthquakes), Freddy Adu (Philadelphia Union), Oguchi Onyewu (Sporting CP), DeMarcus Beasley (Puebla) and Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy).
