John Toshack: Former Wales and Liverpool great denies claims of dementia diagnosis

Former Wales and Liverpool icon John Toshack has denied that he has been diagnosed with dementia.

Earlier this week his son, Cameron, told the Daily Mail that his father had received a diagnosis.

Speaking to BBC Wales alongside his wife, Toshack said that was not true.

The 77-year-old, who lives with his wife Mai Angulo in Spain, said seeing the news reports had been “surprising”.

“I’m going on for 80 years of age, my memory isn’t what it used to be, but it’s not dementia, I haven’t had a diagnosis,” said Toshack.

“I’m not as young as I used to be and I did have a bad attack of Covid when it was going around, but thankfully I’m ok now.

“I do everything on my own, but like anyone at my age I’m not getting any younger.”

His son and ex-Leeds United assistant Cameron, who now lives and coaches in Thailand, had told the Daily Mail that his father has “good days and bad days”.

During the phone interview, John Toshack said he had not seen his son in a while.

Cameron Toshack has been contacted for comment about his interview with the Daily Mail.

In his interview with BBC Wales, John Toshack also joked about his injuries from his playing days.

“I’ve got my old football injuries which are still here, and I can’t get to the far post as well now,” said Toshack.

Toshack scored 13 goals in 40 caps for his country – who he also managed both in 1994 and between 2004 and 2010.

After a glittering playing career with Liverpool, he went on to manage several leading clubs across Europe including Real Madrid, Real Sociedad and Besiktas.

Toshack previously spent two weeks on a ventilator in a Barcelona hospital after contracting Covid-19 and pneumonia.

In November 2022 he said he had been “seriously ill”, adding: “When I think back on it now, it’s frightening.”