John Toshack's Family in Heated Dispute Over Dementia Diagnosis Claims
The family of Liverpool and Wales football icon John Toshack is locked in a bitter and escalating public disagreement over his reported dementia diagnosis. This deeply personal health matter has spilled into the media, revealing conflicting accounts from different family members about the 77-year-old legend's condition.
Son's Claims of Official Diagnosis
Cameron Toshack, John's son from a previous marriage to Susan Bann, has told Daily Mail Sport that his father has received a formal dementia diagnosis. The Thailand-based football coach, currently assistant coach at Thai League 1 club Buriram United, described his father's condition as "a terrible disease" that primarily affects short-term memory.
Cameron explained: "I speak to him most days and if we chat in the afternoon, he might not remember that we also spoke in the morning. But if I ask him about the Liverpool days, or Sociedad or Madrid, the detail is amazing." When directly questioned if this was an official diagnosis, Cameron confirmed: "Yes."
Toshack and Wife's Firm Denial
In stark contrast, John Toshack himself, now living in Besalu in Spain's Catalan province of Girona with his wife of 33 years Mai Angulo, has firmly rejected these claims. When visited by Spanish reporters this week, the former Real Madrid and Real Sociedad manager insisted: "Dementia? Not yet!"
Mai Angulo has been particularly vocal in dismissing Cameron's statements, telling Spanish daily El Diario Vasco: "Cameron only knows what he talks about very occasionally on the phone with his father. He hasn't seen him for two years. That's why it really surprised me that he said this."
Covid-19 Aftereffects Acknowledged
While denying the dementia diagnosis, Mai did acknowledge that her husband's 2022 battle with Covid-19 left severe physical and mental aftereffects. "It is true that Covid left him with very severe after-effects, both physical and mental," she admitted. "Everyone has been able to notice this."
She described the traumatic experience of John being sedated in intensive care for more than ten days, saying: "He always says that he was out of this world for more than ten days and that when, thank God, he came back, he didn't understand anything. He didn't know what was happening to him or where he was."
Football Legend's Current State
Spanish newspaper El Mundo published footage showing Toshack looking relaxed and laughing while wearing a Real Sociedad tracksuit. The journalist who visited him, Luis Nunez-Villaveiran, reported: "I've been with him and he maintains the spark he became known for in clubs like Real Madrid and Real Sociedad."
During the visit, Toshack demonstrated his sharp memory by reciting the famous team selection quote he made history with following a calamitous Real Madrid away match against Rayo Vallecano. He joked: "On Mondays I always think I'll make ten changes to the team. On Tuesdays, seven or eight. By Thursday, it's four. Friday two, and by Saturday I'm back to starting the same eleven bastards."
Family Tensions and Private Support
The disagreement has exposed apparent family tensions, with Mai suggesting that during John's Covid crisis, "except for John's closest friends, no one showed interest, not even his family." Meanwhile, Cameron's claims have reportedly received private support from individuals who know John Toshack personally.
Mai expressed her devotion to her husband, saying: "The only thing I can say is that I am devoted to John so that he can have the best possible life. He is the love of my life, and I will never leave him. Together we came through those terrible days, and together we will always remain in our home."
The football legend, who played more than 200 matches for Cardiff City before winning nine trophies during his eight-year Liverpool career, continues to live in Spain with Mai and their five dogs, celebrating his 77th birthday recently in what his wife described as a happy occasion.
