Aberdeen has become home on and off the field for goalkeeper Tomas Cerny.
That is why the Czech shotstopper has signed on the dotted line for another year with the Dons.
Aberdeen are Cerny’s fourth Scottish club, having also played for Hamilton, Hibernian and Partick Thistle, but he is on course to make his time with the Dons his longest spell with a Scottish club with his new deal taking him into his third campaign with the Dons.
The ink is still drying on the extension but the decision is one which was made weeks ago.
Cerny said: “My family and I enjoy living in Aberdeen. We have found a new home, a place to bring up the family. We are settled and planning to stay here long term.
“I love the whole area, Aberdeenshire has so many outdoor opportunities and I think it is a great place to have a family. It is great to get out and enjoy the outdoors.
“With the age that my children are at, you don’t want to be moving them around every year. I am very happy to be at Aberdeen for the third year running. It is brilliant.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to extend the contract. Staying at this level of football, it is a fantastic opportunity and I am excited about the new season.”
At 35 Cerny will continue in the role of understudy to leading man, Dons captain Joe Lewis. Cerny knows the role he must play at Aberdeen but it is one he believes brings out the best in his glove rival.
He said: “The role that I have is something that I enjoy. I am here to support Joe and to push him hard and to make him be at his best, which he has been, and I have to be ready if I get called on upon.
“Joe and I are both experienced goalkeepers who have been through a lot. We understand what is required, we have both been the number one choice and number two choice so we both understand each other’s role. We try to help each other out and do our best to help the team.”
Cerny may play a watching brief more often than not but in his role from the sidelines he has seen enough to convince him the Dons can win silverware this season.
The 2020 Scottish Cup has still to be played to a conclusion while there will be more cup chances in the Betfred Cup and the 2021 Scottish Cup. Cerny believes Aberdeen should be approaching the new campaign with confidence.
He said: “I don’t see why we can’t win a trophy this season.
“I so much want to be part of an Aberdeen team that lifts some silverware. We have kept our squad from last season, and we have added Jonny Hayes who is a great player with loads of experience. That should make us even stronger.
“The gaffer is always stressing to us when we play these cup games that we are one or two games away from winning a trophy.
“We have shown in cup games that we can beat anyone in a one off game and that is something that we will try and do again and hopefully lift some silverware.”
