Liverpool legend rejects son's dementia claim as incredible family feud explodes

Liverpool and Wales soccer icon John Toshack, who turned 77 earlier this month, has dismissed his son's claims he is battling dementia, insisting "not yet" when asked about the condition

John Toshack claims that he is not battling dementia(Image: Getty Images)

Wales soccer legend John Toshack has dismissed his son's assertions that he is battling dementia.

The 77-year-old's wife, Mai Angulo, recently revealed that Thailand-based Cameron Toshack's comments regarding his father's "dementia battle" had caught her completely off guard. Acknowledging that Covid had significantly impacted her physically and mentally, she told Spanish newspaper 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."

Now, the Liverpool and Real Madrid icon has refuted the dementia claims made by his 56-year-old son, who currently serves as assistant coach at Thai League 1 side Buriram United.

Inviting a journalist from prominent Spanish daily El Mundo into his Besalu home in Catalonia's Girona province, which he shares with Mai and their five dogs, the former Real Madrid and Real Sociedad boss stated emphatically: "Dementia? Not yet!"

He quipped: "I've forgotten all the goals I missed, but I remember perfectly the ones I scored."

El Mundo also shared video footage of the soccer icon, who featured in over 200 matches for Cardiff City before collecting nine trophies during eight years at Liverpool, reciting the memorable team selection quote that made headlines following a disastrous Real Madrid away fixture against Rayo Vallecano while he was at the helm of the Spanish club.

John Toshack during his time in charge of Swansea(Image: Getty Images)

Relaxed and smiling while dressed in a Real Sociedad tracksuit under the sunshine, John remarked: "On Mondays I always think I'll make 10 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 11 b-------."

El Mundo journalist Luis Nunez-Villaveiran, who shared the footage on Instagram, commented: "John Toshack's son said in an interview his father suffered dementia. I've been with him and he maintains the spark he became known for in clubs like Real Madrid and Real Sociedad."

He continued: "The former manager takes advantage of a risotto and cheesecake lunch to tease his wife about things he doesn't remember between glasses of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, and then wink at the guests before flashing another smile."

Cameron, Toshack's son from his previous marriage to Susan Bann, revealed in a Daily Mail interview earlier this week that his father was living with dementia. He said: "It's a terrible disease. It's the short-term memory where we're seeing it – 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."

Mai, Toshack's wife of 33 years, responded by stating: "John is very calm here. We celebrated his 77th birthday on Sunday, and he was very happy."

She did concede, however, that his bout with Covid had enduring consequences: "It is true that Covid left him with very severe after-effects, both physical and mental. Everyone has been able to notice this.

"We cannot forget that we went through some terrible moments, with John sedated in an intensive care unit, not knowing how he would progress. 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. It wasn't easy. I spent many days anxious because, except for John's closest friends, no one showed interest, not even his family."

In a heartfelt message directed at her husband's devoted legion of supporters, Mai said: "In his name, I want to send a hug to everyone. 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."