FlashFocus: On-loan Rangers Winger Cerny Finally Realising His Potential

Czech winger Vaclav Cerny has experienced the rollercoaster of football, navigating through injuries that have plagued his career. However, now on loan at Rangers from Wolfsburg, Cerny is finally beginning to show the potential that many have long recognised.

When Cerny joins the Czech national team camp, he’s often met with laughter and light-hearted banter. One of his footballing idols is Dutch legend Arjen Robben. “You’re right, my admiration for him initially stemmed from his hair,” chuckles the now balding athlete.

Cerny possesses a flair for precise positioning, quick bursts of speed, and impressive dribbling skills, complemented by a powerful left-footed shot. This season in the UEFA Europa League, he has netted goals against FCSB, Nice, Royale Union SG, and scored a brace against Fenerbahce in Rangers’ recent knockout match.

Although Rangers narrowly avoided elimination in the Europa League (winning on penalties), the performances of the Czech winger were nothing short of outstanding. At an unexpected location in Britain, the talented player, honed in the Ajax academy, is experiencing a phenomenal season.

Speculation abounds about his future, particularly as he is only on loan in the Scottish Premiership from Bundesliga club Wolfsburg. With a remarkable 17 goals for Rangers this season, his market value has substantially increased.

Footsteps into Football

Cerny’s journey to the football pitch was almost predetermined. His father played professionally, making five league appearances in the Czech league and even competing in the Czech Cup final back in June 1997 for Dukla. Little ‘Vasek’ was just on the horizon, born only four months later.

Later, Vaclav Cerny Sr. transitioned into coaching, aiding the establishment of the Pribram football academy and eventually managing the Czech youth national team.

Notable players such as Ales Mateju and Antonin Barak rose to prominence from Pribram’s talent pool, but Vaclav Cerny Jr. took a different route. As a teenager, he explored opportunities at various top clubs across Europe before finally heading to the prestigious Ajax Amsterdam youth academy at just 16.

He certainly made his mark there. At the youth level with ‘Jong Ajax’—coached by Frenkie de Jong and including talents like goalkeeper Andre Onana, Noussair Mazraoui, Donny Van de Beek, and the gifted but tragically fated Abdelhak Nouri—Cerny scored 15 goals, securing the top scorer title.

During the 2015/16 season, he made a memorable impact in his first team debut against Celtic, where a stunning solo goal brought victory in the Europa League. At just 17, it felt as though the world was open to him.

A Career Hampered by Injuries

Yet, as with many such stories, the road became fraught with obstacles. Cerny’s career was soon marred by recurring knee injuries.

After suffering a ligament injury that kept him out of football for more than 11 months, he returned to prove himself worthy of a first team position under Erik Ten Hag in the B-team, becoming the standout player for Ajax’s reserves once again.

In the end, though, he played just 29 matches and found the net only four times in four seasons for the Ajax senior team across all competitions, with just a single league goal. It became clear that a change was necessary.

After an unsuccessful stint at Utrecht, Twente offered him a chance to reignite his talent. Within a team that deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation, Cerny’s abilities flourished once more. Even after enduring a challenging operation, he rebounded strongly, earning a move to the Bundesliga.

The difference in fortunes is best illustrated when comparing him to contemporaries like Van de Beek. In 2016, both Cerny and Van de Beek had equivalent price tags of €1 million. However, while the Dutch midfielder managed to avoid injury, integrating into the first team and escalating his market value to €44 million over four years, Cerny’s value plummeted to €800,000 largely due to his ongoing health struggles. It was only after his transfer to Wolfsburg that he regained a solid price tag of €9.2 million. Interestingly, Van de Beek’s own career has recently faltered, and now plays for LaLiga side Girona with a market value that has dipped below Cerny’s.

However, Cerny’s venture into the Bundesliga wasn’t as spectacular as envisioned. Coach Niko Kovac frequently altered the line-up to a 4-4-2 formation, and as time progressed, Cerny found himself starting fewer matches. A similar fate befell him on the international stage, where former coach Jaroslav Silhavy often deployed a more defensive strategy, limiting opportunities for wingers.

Cerny’s Resurgence at Rangers

After the 2023/2024 season, Cerny jumped at the chance to join Rangers on loan. This move has proven to be advantageous for him. With impressive performances in the Europa League already noted, he has added another 11 goals to his tally in the Scottish Premiership.

“The move to Rangers has been perfect for him; he has been supported by a coach who believes in him. Vasek is also thriving off the pitch, enjoying his time,” remarked his agent David Nehoda.

Cerny’s success has hinged on being assigned the right role. Former coach Philippe Clement allowed him to play in his preferred position on the right wing, just behind the striker—a similar setup to Twente and the Rangers, who use a 4-2-3-1 formation.

It is here that he delivered standout performances, particularly against Fenerbahce. In this season’s Europa League, Cerny has contributed six goals and two assists in ten appearances.

In the Scottish Premiership, he has added 11 goals and another two assists. Despite the departure of the Belgian coach in February, Cerny appears to have retained that same confidence under new manager Barry Ferguson.

Could this be the beginning of a more permanent association with Rangers? “I would love to stay,” Cerny expressed when asked about the possibility of continuing his career at Ibrox Park.

“However, there are many factors beyond my control. My focus is solely on performing at my best and maintaining my form. With matches every three days, there’s no time for anything else,” he added.

There are whispers behind the scenes that the Scottish club is exploring an alternative arrangement. American investors are expressing interest in the Glasgow club, and new financial backing is anticipated over the summer. With aspirations to challenge their rivals Celtic, potential spending on new acquisitions at Ibrox Park is likely.

Whether Cerny will feature on Rangers’ recruitment list remains uncertain, with Wolfsburg bearing the final say over his future.

“If that’s not the case, it’s quite possible he will switch clubs in the summer. Other than Rangers, clubs from Germany, Italy, or Spain may also express interest,” added his agent.

The Pribram native has accomplished quite a lot this year, and an intriguing move seems imminent.