By Our Correspondent
National News – Former John Toshack has been diagnosed with dementia at the age of 77, his son Cameron Toshack confirmed on Wednesday.
The former Liverpool F.C. striker and Wales national football team international is currently battling the illness, which primarily affects his short-term memory, according to comments Cameron gave to the Daily Mail.
Cameron revealed that his father now experiences fluctuating health conditions, describing the illness as a devastating disease that sometimes causes him to forget conversations within hours.
Despite these challenges, Toshack’s long-term memory remains sharp, particularly when recalling details from his illustrious football career as a player and manager.
According to his son, the football legend recently described a classic match involving Real Madrid CF against AC Milan under legendary manager Arrigo Sacchi.
Cameron said Toshack vividly remembered tactical strategies used to counter star striker Marco van Basten, highlighting how deeply football memories remain embedded in his mind.
Toshack enjoyed a celebrated playing career at Liverpool between 1970 and 1978, where he formed a formidable strike partnership with Kevin Keegan.
During his eight-year spell at Anfield, he helped the club win multiple trophies including three English league titles, two UEFA Cups, the FA Cup, the European Cup, the Charity Shield, and the UEFA Super Cup.
After leaving Liverpool, Toshack moved into management and achieved remarkable success. In 1978, he became player-manager at Swansea City A.F.C. and guided the club from the Fourth Division to the First Division in successive seasons while winning three Welsh Cup titles.
His managerial career later took him across Europe with clubs such as Real Madrid, Real Sociedad and Beşiktaş J.K..
He also managed Wales twice, including a notable spell between 2004 and 2010 where he helped nurture future stars like Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen.
Cameron added that despite his father’s diagnosis, Toshack still provides coaching advice during their frequent conversations about football.
The Swansea-born icon previously survived a serious health scare in 2022 when he spent two weeks on a ventilator in Barcelona after contracting COVID-19 and pneumonia.
Tributes have continued to pour in from the global football community, celebrating Toshack’s remarkable journey from Cardiff City to European football glory and his lasting influence on the sport.
