Tom Heinemann Aiming To Rekindle Past Form With Coach Marc Dos Santos In San Francisco

Photo credit: Kelly L Cox/KLC Photos

Tom Heinemann is set to have a reunion in San Francisco, and the forward hopes it sparks the same success.

With the Deltas Heinemann will once again play for Marc Dos Santos after the pair was together in Ottawa for the 2014 and 2015 NASL seasons. In 2015, the pair achieved the most success. Reaching The Championship Final – and winning the Fall Season Trophy – Heinemann scored eight goals and then four more in the postseason, including an extra-time winner.

“I sure hope so,” Heinemann, 29, told NASL.com about rekindling that form after scoring four times for Tampa Bay a year ago. “Coming from last year was a bit of a challenge and I’m looking forward to playing with Marc and in his system again.

“The beautiful thing about Marc’s system is that every player has a role and knows their role and makes the team the star. When that happens, it’s so much more fun for the players that are playing in the system. The system that he plays, when it clicks, it makes it very fun for the players and that was another attractive thing for me to play for Marc again.”

Heinemann gives the Deltas a hardworking forward that makes life difficult on defenders when they have the ball with his high pressure, intensity, and energy. Those strengths play well into the style of play Dos Santos brings to the field.

“Every player has strengths and weaknesses and learning how to play within your strengths and maximize the things you do well can only help you as a player,” Heinemann said. “I’m looking forward to playing in that system, being a part of this club, and helping to build the sport in this city.”

Among an experienced roster assembled by Dos Santos, Heinemann is acutely aware of being a member of a club in its inaugural season. That knowledge will be a key asset as the club looks to have success right from the get-go.

“I was very excited at the opportunity to come out and join the San Francisco Deltas,” he said. “It’s a new project, a new club, and it’s something I’ve done before. This is the third time in my career I’ve been a part of an expansion team. To be a part of something from the beginning and to be able to look back on it someday and recognize that you were a part of the foundation and building block of the club is special.”

While there is still work to do, Heinemann feels the pieces are coming together nicely.

“There’s definitely guys that have been there and have accomplished great things in the game,” he said. “When you bring that pedigree to the game it gives you maturity and stability and experience.”

I think you can see very good signs that the team will be working together and is on the same page.”

The first chance of tasting success as a club comes on March 25 against last year’s runners-up, Indy Eleven.

“I’m very thrilled and blessed to be a part of this group,” Heinemann said. “I’m hoping that we can accomplish great things one step at a time.”

Heinemann and Dos Santos will now have to see if the past can repeat itself in San Francisco.