When he arrives at the Czech national team meeting, jokes abound. One of Vaclav Cerny's great role models is Dutch icon Arjen Robben. "You are right, back then it was mainly because of what happened to my hair," laughs the now balding footballer.
"But I like Robben. In my eyes, he's one of the best wingers in the history of football. I often watch his videos and learn from him," Cerny told Flashscore two years ago how he is inspired by the former Bayern Munich star. In fact, the current game of the Rangers mainstay looks similar. Only maybe Robben had more of an impact on goal.
A flair for picking his spots, short bursts and dribbling, and a sharp left-footed shot. In this season's UEFA Europa League, he has scored against FCSB, Nice, Royale Union SG and then two against Fenerbahce in Ranger's latest Europa League knockout tie.
Although Rangers were lucky not to be eliminated from the Europa League (they won on penalties), the Czech winger's performance was very impressive. At an unexpected address in the British Isles, the talented winger, whose technique was honed in the Ajax academy, is having the season of his life.
It is being discussed where he will go in the summer. After all, he's only on loan in the Scottish Premier League from Bundesliga club Wolfsburg, but he's also already raised his price tag solidly with 17 goals scored for Rangers this season.
Football was the obvious route for Cerny
It was no coincidence that his steps led to the football field. His dad played football and recorded five league starts in the Czech league and even played in the Czech Cup final in June 1997 in the colours of Dukla. By then, little 'Vasek' was on his way, born four months later.
Later, Vaclav Cerny Sr. took up coaching, helping to build the Pribram football academy and later leading the Czech youth national team.
Ales Mateju and Antonin Barak were notable examples of players who graduated to the first team from Pribram's talent pool, but Vaclav Cerny Jr.'s path was different. As a teenager, he toured big clubs across Europe, but eventually left his home and at the age of 16, he headed to the famed youth academy of Ajax Amsterdam.
And he certainly didn't lose his way. In the youth team, 'Jong Ajax' - led by Frenkie de Jong and featuring goalkeeper Andre Onana, Noussair Mazroaui, Donny Van de Beek and the super-talent with a very sad fate Abdelhak Nouri - he scored 15 goals with his exceptional left foot and became the top scorer.
It was the 2015/16 season, and he even secured a win in the Europa League after a wonderful solo effort in one of his first starts for the first team at Celtic. He was 17 years old and the world seemed to be at his feet.
Cursed by recurring injuries
But as these stories go, nothing is as simple as it seems. The winger's career began to be blighted by a knee injury.
After a ligament injury, when he didn't play football for over 11 months, he got fit and tried to convince Erik Ten Hag in the B-team that he belonged in the first team. He was again the most productive player in the Ajax reserves.
However, in the end, he played just 29 games and scored four goals in four seasons for the Ajax first team across all competitions. Only one of those was a league goal. It was obvious he had to go elsewhere.
After a failed stint at Utrecht, Twente came calling. In a team that played a 4-2-3-1 system, Cerny's talent blossomed again. And even though he had to undergo another difficult operation, he came back strong and shot his way to a move to the Bundesliga.
Comparisons with peer Van de Beek, for example, show how injuries can change a footballer's life and destiny. In 2016, he and Cerny had the same price tag - one million euros. But the Dutch midfielder stayed healthy, managed to settle in the first team and in four years his market value was 44 million euros.
In the same period, mainly due to his precarious health, Cerny dropped to 800,000 euros. It wasn't until his transfer to Wolfsburg that he had a solid pricetag - 9.2 million euros. Van de Beek, on the other hand, did not keep his career on track, however. Today he is a player at LaLiga side Girona and his market value is lower than Cerny's.
The Bundesliga move wasn't actually that dreamy for Cerny, however. Wolfsburg coach Niko Kovac often switched the lineup to a 4-4-2 system and over time the Czech winger was playing in the starting XI less and less often. A similar thing happened in the Czech national team. Even there, former head coach Jaroslav Silhavy relied on a defensive style rather than sending wingers on the field.
Cerny is shining in Rangers' system
After the 2023/2024 season, Cerny took the opportunity to go on loan to Rangers. And this seems to have suited him perfectly. We've already talked about his goals in the Europa League and he has added another 11 in the Scottish Premiership.
"The Rangers move suited him in every way, he was helped a lot by a coach who trusted him. Vasek is also doing well in his personal life, he's having a great time," said agent David Nehoda.
It's all about giving him the right role. Now-departed coach Philippe Clement let him play where he was shining at Ajax, on the right wing, behind the striker - much like Twente, Rangers play a 4-2-3-1 system.
It was in this position that he played exceptional games against Fenerbahce. In the Europa League this season, Cerny has scored six goals with two assists in 10 games.
In the Scottish Premiership, he has added 11 goals and two assists. And even though the Belgian coach left in February, the Czech seems to have found similar confidence under new manager Barry Ferguson.
Could this be the signal for his permanent move to Rangers? "I would like to stay," Cerny replied when asked if the Ibrox Park club is where he would like to continue his career.
"But there are so many aspects I can't control. All I can do is play to the best of my ability and keep my form and numbers up. There is no time for anything else, we play every three days," he added.
There is talk behind the scenes that the Scottish club are in for a slightly different deal. American businessmen are interested in the Glasgow giants and their entry into the club and new investment is expected to happen in the summer. Because that will come with ambitions to stop the reign of rivals Celtic, there will probably be spending on new signings at Ibrox Park.
Whether Cerny will be on Rangers' wish list remains to be seen. But the first word will surely go to Wolfsburg, to whom he still belongs.
"If they want Vaclav back, that will be our priority. He still has a valid contract in Germany and would like to establish himself there," Nehoda told Flashscore, somewhat contradicting his client's words.
"If that's not the case, I think it's likely that he will change clubs in the summer. Besides Rangers, clubs from Germany, Italy or Spain could be in play," added the player's agent.
The native of Pribram has already done quite a lot this year and surely, an interesting move awaits.