Former Liverpool and Wales international John Toshack has been diagosed with dementia, his family has confirmed.
The 77-year-old, who enjoyed a distinguished playing and managerial career, is best remembered for his prolific spell at Liverpool in the 1970s, where he scored nearly 100 goals and formed a formidable strike partnership with Kevin Keegan.
Toshack also earned 40 caps for Wales before transitioning into management, where he went on to coach several top clubs and national teams, including Real Madrid, Real Sociedad and Wales.
Family Opens Up on Diagnosis
His son, Cameron Toshack, revealed details of the illness in an interview, describing the challenges associated with the condition.
“It’s terrible disease. It’s the short-term memory where we’re seeing it- I speak to him most days and if we talk in the afternoon, he might not remember we spoke in the morning,” he said.
Despite this, Cameron noted that his father’s long-term football memories remain remarkably sharp.
“If I ask him about his Liverpool days, Sociedad or Madrid, the detail is amazing,” he added.
Remarkable Memory of Football Career
Cameron recounted how Toshack vividly remembered a tactical battle involving Arrigo Sacchi’s AC Milan and striker Marco van Basten, describing the match in precise detail decades later.
“The game could have been yesterday, his memory was so clear,” he said.
A distinguished Career in Football
Toshack’s football journey spanned decades, both on and off the pitch. As a player, he was a key figure in Liverpool’s success, while his managerial career saw him achieve major milestones across Europe.
He won the Copa del Rey during one of his spells with Real Sociedad and later guided Real Madrid to the La Liga title in 1990.
Beyond Spain, Toshack also coached in France, Turkey, Morocco, Azerbaijan and Italy, in addition to serving two stints as Wales national team manager.
