John Toshack has been diagnosed with dementia, his family has confirmed.
The news was revealed by his son, Cameron Toshack, who described the condition as deeply challenging. He said: “It’s a terrible disease.”
Cameron explained that the 77-year-old struggles particularly with short-term memory, adding: “If we chat in the afternoon, he might not remember that we also spoke in the morning.” However, he noted that Toshack’s long-term memory remains strong, especially when recalling his football career.
He said: “If I ask him about the Liverpool days… the detail is amazing.”
Toshack enjoyed a distinguished playing career, most notably with Liverpool FC, where he won multiple major honours, including league titles and the European Cup.
He also earned 40 caps for the Wales national team. After retiring as a player, he went on to manage several clubs and national teams, including Real Madrid and Real Sociedad.
Cameron shared that his father can still vividly recall tactical details from past matches, saying: “The game could have been yesterday, his memory was so clear.”
Despite the diagnosis, he added that Toshack continues to offer insight and advice, reflecting his enduring football intelligence. The former striker was famously signed by Bill Shankly from Cardiff in a record deal at the time, marking the start of a celebrated career in football.
English (US) ·