Czech international goalkeeper Radek Cerny signed for QPR on a free transfer from Slavia Prague in 2008 and won the Championship Golden Glove award in his first full season at Loftus Road.
DOB – 18/02/74
Height – 6ft 2ins
Weight - 13st 10lbs
Contract – 2010
Rangers became the first club outside the Czech Republic to have three Czech international keepers play for them when Radek Cerny followed Jan Stejskal and Ludek Miklosko to Loftus Road on a free transfer in the summer of 2008.
The veteran stopper faced a tough start to life at Loftus Road. Manager Iain Dowie wanted to begin the season with Lee Camp in goal but was told to pick Cerny by owner Flavio Briatore. Camp was a popular member of the QPR team with the fans who had voted him runner up in the player of the year vote for the season before and when Rangers started badly and went a goal down on the opening day against unfancied Barnsley fans sang Camp's name and abused Cerny within 15 minutes of his debut beginning.
Cerny made a horrendous error in a 3-0 thrashing at Sheffield United a week later but kept his place in the team and won the fans over with a series of super performances culminating in 90 minutes of miraculous goalkeeping at Old Trafford in the League Cup. Despite another nervy spell over Cristmas when he could be faulted for goals against Charlton, Burnley and Coventry cerny continued to excel and impress in the second half of the campaign - ending the season with 19 clean sheets and a share of the division's Golden Glove with Sheff Utd's Paddy Kenny. Always a strong shot stopper but showed increasing confidence on crosses as the campaign went on.
Cerny came to the British public’s attention in 2007/08 at Tottenham Hotspur. He originally joined Spurs from Slavia Prague on an 30 month loan as a back up to Paul Robinson but when the England keeper suffered a dramatic loss in form and Juande Ramos replaced Martin Jol as Tottenham manager Cerny was installed as first choice for the middle portion of the season. He impressed as well with decent shot stopping ability and a calm manner – eventually relinquishing the jersey back to Robinson just before the League Cup final only to retake it right at the end of the season.
It came a surprise to many when the move wasn’t made permanent although ultimately he did stay in London, in the Championship with QPR.
Cerny turned professional at Slavia Prague aged 19 and was in the unique position of competing for the number one spot at the Czech giants with his younger brother Petr. In 15 years he clocked up 178 appearances and three caps for the national side but spent considerable time out on loan.
Cerny is allegedly nicknamed Rodney due to a fondness of Only Fools and Horses however after the Patrick Agyemang ‘Dave’ controversy LFW regulars would be well advised to check with the player before taking this any further!
| Career Stats | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Season | Apps(as sub) | Goals |
| QPR | 2008 – 09 | 47 | 0 |
| Spurs | 2007 – 08 | 12 | 0 |
| Spurs | 2006 - 07 | 1 | 0 |
| Spurs | 2005 – 06 | 0 | 0 |
| Spurs | 2004 – 05 | 3 | 0 |
| Slavia Prague | 1993 – 2005 | 178 | 0 |