Former Liverpool striker and Wales international, John Toshack, has been diagnosed with dementia at the age of 77, his son Cameron has confirmed.
Cameron Toshack, currently coaching in Thailand, told The Daily Mail on Wednesday that his father experiences “good days and bad days” as the disease primarily affects his short-term memory.
“It’s a terrible disease. “I speak to him most days, and if we chat in the afternoon, he might not remember that we also spoke in the morning,”Cameron said,
However, the 77-year-old’s long-term memory remains remarkably sharp, especially when recalling his playing and managerial days.
Cameron recounted how his father recently described in precise detail a Real Madrid match against Arrigo Sacchi’s AC Milan, including specific tactical adjustments made to counter Marco van Basten.
Toshack enjoyed a glittering playing career with Liverpool, forming a prolific strike partnership with Kevin Keegan.
During his eight years at Anfield (1970–1978), he won three English league titles, two UEFA Cups, one FA Cup, one European Cup, a Charity Shield, and a UEFA Super Cup. After leaving Liverpool, Toshack became player-manager of Swansea City in 1978 and famously guided the club from the Fourth Division to the First Division in successive seasons, winning three Welsh Cup titles in the process.
As a manager, he enjoyed success across Europe, including two spells at Real Madrid, as well as stints with Real Sociedad and Besiktas.
He also managed Wales on two occasions (1994 and 2004–2010), where he played a key role in nurturing talents such as Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, and Joe Allen.
Despite the diagnosis, Cameron revealed that his father continues to offer coaching advice from afar.“I’ll talk to him about what we’re doing in Thailand, and he still gives great advice.
“As a manager, he could always see two or three moves ahead,” Cameron added.
Toshack previously battled serious health issues in 2022 when he spent two weeks on a ventilator in Barcelona after contracting Covid-19 and pneumonia.
The football world has begun paying tribute to the Swansea-born legend, whose remarkable journey from Cardiff City to European glory remains one of the most inspiring stories in British football.
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