Toshack battling a 'terrible illness', says son | OneFootball

John Benjamin Toshack, the former Real Madrid and Real Sociedad manager, has been diagnosed with dementia, his son Cameron has revealed. The Welshman is 77.

“It is a terrible illness. What we are seeing is the short-term memory. I speak to him daily and, if we chat in the afternoon, he might not remember we spoke in the morning. But ask him about Liverpool, Real Sociedad or Real Madrid and the detail is astonishing,” he told the Daily Mail.

“The other day he was recalling a Madrid game against Arrigo Sachi’s Milan and how he adjusted his midfield to deal with Van Basten. The match could have been yesterday, his memory was very sharp.”

Real Sociedad honoured Toshack in September during their match with Real Madrid. He received an ovation at Anoeta and was presented with the club’s gold and diamond insignia.

After managing Swansea and Sporting de Portugal, he moved to Spain in 1985. He led Real Sociedad from 1985 to 1989, then Real Madrid in 1989-90, returned to Real Sociedad in 1991-94, to Madrid in 1999, then again at Real Sociedad in 2001-02. He also coached Deportivo and Real Murcia.

In Spain he won La Liga with Madrid in 1990, the Copa del Rey with Real Sociedad in 1987 and the Spanish Super Cup with Deportivo in 1995.

As a player he made 172 Liverpool appearances, winning European Cups in 1977 and 1978 and UEFA Cups in 1973 and 1976.

One of the Spanish league’s most charismatic coaches is now confronting a difficult illness.

Source: AS