Not every player who graduates from Europe’s most fabled academies – such as Rangers’ creative kingpin – can be guaranteed a storied career at the very top level of the game.
And while Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt, Jasper Cillessen, Rafael van der Vaart, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and more would end up plying their trade at one of football’s A-list institutions, Vaclav Cerny is yet to reach the same heights post-Ajax.
Turning 28 this year, perhaps he never will.
Cerny has been linked with the likes of Villarreal in the midst of an impressive loan spell at Rangers. But that is maybe the limit of Cerny’s prospects. B-list clubs such as Villarreal rather than Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United or Juventus.
Yet, while the Czech Republic international will not fly quite so high as Ibrahimovic and co, most footballers would kill to be in the position he currently finds himself in.
One of the first names on Rangers’ team sheet. A Europa League regular, and a new-found fans’ favourite amongst one of the most impassioned support bases across the continent.
And while he would make only 16 Eredivisie appearances for Ajax – Erik ten Hag described Cerny as a ‘special’ talent but the attacking quality at his disposal at the time put a first-team berth out of the winger’s reach – Rangers’ VFL Wolfsburg loanee still has no regrets about his decision to choose the Dutch giants over a host of other continental superclubs when departing Czech outfit FK Pribam over a decade ago.
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Rangers winger Vaclav Cerny chose Ajax over Chelsea and Arsenal
Cerny had trials at Juventus and Chelsea, while Arsenal were also interested at the time.
Yet, speaking to Seznam Zpravy, Cerny explains that Ajax’s remarkable reputation when it comes to turning potential into proven, elite-level talent made this an opportunity he simply could not turn down.
“I left home at fifteen,” Cerny recalls. “It was unavoidable at the time. If I hadn’t gone to Ajax, I would have gone to Juventus, Arsenal or Chelsea. I knew I would go.
“It was about choosing the right path with my dad, the one we wanted to take. Ajax was a great choice. It was huge. I had already been enriched by trials at big clubs, where I was invited [to train].
“For a boy from Pribram, it was unbelievable to suddenly be in the famous Ajax academy, where the De Boer brothers, [Marc] Overmars, [Dennis] Bergkamp [had honed their talents]. I had the honour of sitting at the same table and receiving a birthday wish from Mr [Johan] Cruyff!
“Suddenly, it was a reality that I lived in every day. Everyone from the older generation probably understands what an honour it is to be looked after by such names.
“Something incredible. Great for my development.”
It was at Eredivisie rivals FC Twente, however, where Cerny really made his name in the Netherlands.
The silky right-winger blossomed into one of the most feared attackers in Dutch football during his time in Enschede. Cerny struck up a fearsome understanding with Danilo at Twente, too. A partnership that, with Danilo back to full fitness, is finally being revisited on the blue side of Glasgow.
It was the Danilo who set up the Cerny during the 1-0 win over Dundee. The striker threading through the winger just after half-time, Cerny rounding the visiting goalkeeper and slotting home.
Cerny and Danilo partnership can be ‘sensational’ at Ibrox
Cerny’s former FC Twente coach Ron Jans, speaking to The Herald when Rangers were holding talks to sign him over the summer, remembers when the now-27-year-old southpaw was seen as one of the brightest prospects on the continent.
“Vaclav is one of my favourites. I loved working with him,” Jans explained. “As a young kid, he was seen as one of the biggest talents in Europe. Vaclav had real speed. His left foot is incredible and he works really hard as a player. He’s a real high-intensity player in transition and when pressing.
“Danilo and Vaclav played together and had a great fit [in the 2020/21 season]. The chemistry was really good. They scored so many goals in the first half of the season. It was sensational.”
