John Toshack's son recently shared that the Welsh football icon is battling dementia and his wife has responded
John Toshack with wife Mai Angulo
John Toshack's wife has responded to recent comments about her husband(Image: Facebook/John Benjamin Toshack)
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John Toshack's wife has responded to the football icon's son Cameron revealing his father's dementia diagnosis. Cameron, who is an assistant manager at Buriram United in Thailand, recently shared an update on Toshack's health.
The 77-year-old has faced health challenges in recent years, including a stint in intensive care in 2022 as he fought pneumonia resulting from complications of Covid-19. However, the Liverpool and Swansea City legend's Spanish wife Mai Angulo has now given her perspective.
She expressed surprise at Cameron's recent remarks, as she claims he hasn't visited his dad for a considerable length of time. Mai maintained that "things are very calm" when speaking about her husband's condition.
Toshack and Mai reside in a farmhouse in Girona, Spain, the nation where the Welsh football legend previously managed clubs such as Real Madrid and Real Sociedad. Mai started by telling El Diario Vasco: "John, as he (Cameron) says, is no longer the strong man who arrived in San Sebastián in 1985, but here he is trying to improve every day from the terrible aftereffects of the illness (Covid).
"It's true that Covid left him with very serious aftereffects, both physical and mental. Everyone has been able to see that. We can't forget that we went through some terrible times, with John sedated in the ICU, not knowing how he would progress. The illness greatly affected his mobility and also his memory.
"He always says he was out of this world for more than 10 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, no. I spent many days in anguish because, except for John's closest friends, no one cared, not even his family."
However, she continued: "Rehabilitation was extremely difficult for him but with effort he gradually improved. Every step he took was a victory.
"John is very calm here. We celebrated his 77th birthday on Sunday, and he was very happy. He lives peacefully here, with good weather most days.
"We work in the vegetable garden, and he can go out into the garden or the pool without any problems. He has good days and bad days, but that's to be expected at 77. I'm here to help him at all times."
Addressing Cameron's remarks, she said: "I was very surprised that he said that. He hasn't seen his father for two years and only speaks to him very occasionally on the phone."
John Toshack
John Toshack is battling dementia (Image: FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images)
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Cameron is Toshack's son from an earlier marriage to Susan Bann. The couple split in 2013 following Susan's divorce petition, citing his alleged "unreasonable behaviour." They tied the knot in 1969 when they were both 20 years old.
He moved to Liverpool in 1970 in a £100,000 deal, netting 96 goals for the Reds, before moving to Swansea in 1977. His tenure as player-manager witnessed the Welsh club secure three promotions in four seasons.
After hanging up his boots in 1984, Toshack took the reins at some of Europe's top clubs, including Sporting CP, Real Sociedad, Real Madrid, Deportivo La Coruna, Besiktas and Saint-Etienne. In Madrid, he clinched the La Liga title in 1990.
He also had two spells as Wales manager. Once briefly on a part-time basis in 1994 and then again between 2004 and 2010, aiding in the development of players such as Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen during that second spell.
John Benjamin Toshack receives the Gold and Diamond Badge of Real Sociedad during a tribute ceremony prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid CF at Reale Arena on September 13, 2025 in San Sebastian, Spain.
Toshack was honoured by Real Sociedad last year(Image: Pablo Rodriguez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
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His nomadic managerial career concluded in 2018, having undertaken 14 different roles. He drew the curtain on his 40-year career following a brief period in charge of Iranian side Tractor.
Last year, he made a rare public appearance, receiving the Diamond and Gold badge - the highest honour the La Liga club can award - from his former club Real Sociedad.
Cameron told The Mail: "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 Real Sociedad or Real Madrid, the detail is amazing. The other day he was telling me about a Real Madrid game against Arrigo Sacchi's AC Milan and exactly how he tweaked his midfield to deal with Marco van Basten.
"The game could have been yesterday, his memory was so clear. I'll talk to him about what we're doing in Thailand and he still gives great advice. As a manager, he could always see two or three moves ahead, and it was always in the genes for me, really."
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