John Toshack, the former Liverpool striker and manager who also led teams from Swansea City and Real Madrid to Morocco, Azerbaijan and Macedonia, has been diagnosed with dementia.
The news was shared by his son, Cameron Toshack, who is currently working as No 2 to Mark Jackson at the Thai club Buriram United.
Cameron Toshack on Life in Thailand
Cameron Toshack spoke about living in Buriram, a Thai city 200 miles north of Bangkok. He mentioned living next to Khao Kradong, a dormant volcano. ‘We live next to an actual volcano,’ said Cameron Toshack.
He also described the local culture, noting the Buddhist training college nearby. ‘There is also a Buddhist training college next to us, where the monks go to pray,’ Toshack added. ‘There’s a morning call at the college around 4.30am every day. The first time I heard it, when we got here last year, I must admit I was pretty confused, but it’s such a beautiful culture. An entirely different way of life and a different pace.
He reflected on the value of experiencing different cultures. ‘It’s interesting, isn’t it, that we can grow up on our island and grow accustomed to certain things, but travelling and seeing new cultures, it’s one of the best things we can do if we get the chance. Not being afraid to try new things in life and football is one of the lessons I have taken from my dad.’
John Toshack’s Condition and Career
Cameron Toshack said his father is 77 now and has ‘good days and bad days’. Despite the diagnosis, John Toshack can still recite entire line-ups from matches he contested and oversaw decades ago.
His son acknowledged the substantial imprint John Toshack has left on the game across the years.
Cameron Toshack’s Coaching Journey
Cameron Toshack arrived at Buriram United last October. He is working as No 2 to Mark Jackson, who previously worked at Leeds United and MK Dons, and won the treble in Australia with Central Coast Mariners.
Together, Jackson and Toshack are about to win the Thai top-flight at a canter. They are also in the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League, where Toshack rates the level as ‘at least the top six of the Championship’.
He highlighted the challenges of playing across different time zones. ‘We had a midweek game in Melbourne, nine-hour flight through four time zones, followed by one at home in the league, which is probably a bit like Arsenal playing in Miami on the Wednesday and London at the weekend,’ Toshack says. ‘It can take some getting used to, but having a view of football in all corners of the world, especially with a guy as good as Mark, has been outstanding. I’ve loved it.’
Cameron Toshack’s journey has been eventful.
A frustrating lack of opportunities at home is a familiar story for British coaches and so marks must be made abroad.