Football legend John Toshack, the 77-year-old former Liverpool striker and Wales international, has been diagnosed with dementia, his son Cameron revealed. Toshack, who scored nearly 100 goals at Anfield and earned 40 caps for Wales, also had a long managerial career including stints at Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, and the Wales national team.
Cameron Toshack, now a football coach in Thailand, told the Daily Mail that while his father struggles with short-term memory, his recollection of football matches and tactical details remains exceptional. “If I ask him about the Liverpool days, or Sociedad or Madrid, the detail is amazing,” he said.
For instance, Toshack vividly recalled a Real Madrid match against AC Milan and the tactical adjustments he made to counter Marco van Basten.
During his managerial career, Toshack won the Copa del Rey with Real Sociedad and La Liga with Real Madrid in 1990. He also coached teams across France, Turkey, Morocco, Azerbaijan, and Italy, and had two terms as Wales boss.
Despite the diagnosis, Cameron highlighted his father’s enduring football memory, contrasting it with the challenges of everyday short-term recall.
This announcement underscores the ongoing impact of dementia on former athletes and the importance of support for those affected.
