When he arrives at the Czech national team meeting, jokes are abound. One of 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 27-year-old.
"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 of the former Bayern Munich star.
In fact, the current game of the Rangers mainstay looks similar. Though, Robben had more of an impact on-goal.
A flair for picking his spots, short bursts of dribbling, and a sharp left-footed shot. In this season's UEFA Europa League, he has scored against Bucharest, Nice, Royale Union SG, and then two against Fenerbahce in Rangers' latest Europa League knockout tie.
Although the Gers can be considered lucky not to be eliminated from the Europa League as 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 a loanee in the Scottish Premiership, from Bundesliga club Wolfsburg, but he's also already raised his price tag solidly with 17 goals scored for Rangers this season.
Football was 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 1997 for Dukla. By then, little 'Vasek' was on his way and born four months later.
Later, Vaclav Cerny Sr. took up coaching, helping to build the Pribram football academy and later leading the Czech national youth 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 in Amsterdam.
And he certainly didn't lose his way. In the youth team, 'Jong Ajax' - led by Frenkie de Jong and featuring 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 leading 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 away 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 - just shy of £1 million. But the Dutch midfielder stayed healthy, managed to settle in the first team and in four years his market value was a touch over £35 million.
In the same period, mainly due to his precarious health, Cerny dropped to around £650,000. It wasn't until his transfer to Wolfsburg that he had a solid pricetag - £7.5 million. Van de Beek, on the other hand, did not keep his career on track. Today, he is a player for Girona in La Liga and his market value is lower than Cerny's.
The Bundesliga move wasn't actually that much of a dream for Cerny, however. Wolfsburg coach Niko Kovac often switched the line-up to a 4-4-2 system and over time the Czech winger was picked for the starting XI less and less. 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 up the field.
Cerny 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 star 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 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.
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.