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John Toshack
MBE
Toshack in August 2018 as manager ofTractor
Personal information
Full name John Benjamin Toshack[1]
Date of birth (1949-03-22)22 March 1949(age 75)
Place of birth Cardiff,Wales
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1965–1970 Cardiff City 162 (74)
1970–1978 Liverpool 172 (74)
1978–1984 Swansea City 63 (24)
Total 397 (172)
International career
1968–1969 Wales Under-23 4 (0)
1969–1980 Wales 40 (13)
Managerial career
1978–1983 Swansea City(Player–manager)
1983–1984 Swansea City
1984–1985 Sporting CP
1985–1989 Real Sociedad
1989–1990 Real Madrid
1991–1994 Real Sociedad
1994 Wales
1995–1997 Deportivo
1997–1999 Beşiktaş
1999 Real Madrid
2000–2001 Saint-Étienne
2001–2002 Real Sociedad
2002–2003 Catania
2004 Real Murcia
2004–2010 Wales
2011–2012 Macedonia
2013 Khazar Lankaran
2014–2016 Wydad Casablanca
2018 Tractor
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Benjamin ToshackMBE(born 22 March 1949) is a Welsh former professionalfootballplayer and manager.

He began his playing career as a teenager with his hometown clubCardiff City,becoming the youngest player to make an appearance for the side when he made his debut in 1965. After establishing himself in the first-team, he went on to make over 200 appearances and scored 100 goals in all competitions after forming a striking partnership withBrian Clark.

In 1970, he joinedFirst DivisionsideLiverpool,where he formed a noted forward partnership withKevin KeeganandSteve Heighwaythat helped the club to win two league titles, theEuropean Cup,theUEFA Cupon two occasions, theFA Cupand theUEFA Super Cup.His partnership with Keegan was so effective that the two were described as telepathic. Mounting injuries eventually led to him securing his release from Liverpool to joinSwansea Cityasplayer-managerin March 1978. He led the club to three promotions in four seasons, elevating them from theFourth Divisionto the First Division in a feat that led former Liverpool managerBill Shanklyto describe him as the "manager of the century".[3]During his career, he scored over 150 goals in the Football League in more than 350 appearances and also representedWalesat international level, winning 40 caps and scoring 13 goals.[4]

He resigned from Swansea in 1984 after suffering relegation and embarked on a managerial career abroad, taking charge ofSporting CPin Portugal and later Spanish sideReal Sociedad,winning theCopa del Reyin 1987. Two years later, he was appointed manager ofReal Madridand led them to a fifth consecutiveLa Ligatitle with a record total of points and goals scored. However, a disappointing start to the following season resulted in his dismissal in November 1990 and he returned to Real Sociedad. In 1994, he was appointed part-time manager of Wales alongside his job at Sociedad but resigned from the role after just 47 days having been in charge for one match, citing the strong support for former managerTerry Yorathamong fans and a "political war" as reasons.

After a spell in Turkey withBeşiktaş,he returned to Real Madrid for a second time but was sacked ten months later after refusing to retract criticism he had made of his players in a press conference following a defeat. In 2004, he was appointed as manager of Wales for a second time and remained with the side for six years, presiding over three ultimately unsuccessful qualifying campaigns. He later managedMacedoniaand Azerbaijani sideKhazar Lankaranbefore managing outside Europe for the first time in his career with Moroccan sideWydad CasablancaandTractorof Iran.

Early life

[edit]

John Toshack was born on 22 March 1949 inCardiff,Wales, and grew up on Northumberland Street in theCantonarea of the city.[5]His father George was fromDunfermlinein Scotland and worked as a carpenter.[6]He moved to Wales while serving in theRAF,being stationed atMOD St Athan,and met Toshack's mother Joan, whom he later married.[5][6]

As a child, Toshack attended Radnor Road Primary School, where he first played football for ten minutes in a school trial match,[5]and laterCanton High School for Boys.[7][8][9]As a teenager, Toshack also played rugby and cricket and was regarded as a promisingoutside-halfbefore a fractured shoulder suffered playing rugby led to him focusing on football.[8]He left the school at the age of sixteen withO-levelsin French and history.[5]

Playing career

[edit]

Cardiff City

[edit]

While at school, Toshack was selected to represent Cardiff Boys, where he played alongsideTerry Yorath.[5]In 1963, Toshack scored in every match he played for the side and broke the team's scoring record with his 33rd goal in eleven matches as Cardiff defeated Swansea 2–0 in the Welsh schools divisional final.[10]He was later selected to represent the Wales under-15 side.[5]

In 1965, he joined his hometown clubCardiff City,signing for them as a 16-year-old on a contract worth £12 a week with an £8 appearance bonus and a £4 win bonus.[11]In his early days at the club, he was in charge of cleaning the boots ofJohn Charles.[5]He became the youngest ever player to play in a senior match for the club when he came on as a substitute in place ofGraham Coldrickto make a goalscoring debut during a 3–1 win overLeyton Orienton 13 November 1965 at the age of 16 years and 236 days,[12][13]a record which stood for 41 years until it was broken byAaron Ramseyin 2007.[14]His performance during his debut persuaded managerJimmy Scoularto promote him to the starting line-up for the following match and Toshack found the net again, scoring a brace during a 4–3 victory overMiddlesbrough.[11]In his first season in professional football, he scored six goals during nine appearances in all competitions.[12]

Establishing himself in the side over the next few years, Toshack rejected a £70,000 move toFulhamwhen he was 18 as he felt he was too inexperienced to play in theFirst Divisionand would learn more by playing under Cardiff manager Scoular.[15]He scored his first career hat-trick in January 1968 in an 8–0 win overEbbw Valein theWelsh Cup,[12]and went on to form one of the most prolific partnerships in the club's history alongsideBrian Clark.In the 1968–69 season, he scored 31 goals in all competitions, including three goals in a two-legged Welsh Cup final against Swansea City, finishing as the club's top scorer and the highest goalscorer in the Second Division.[13]He scored two further hat-tricks for Cardiff, in 1969 againstQueens Park Rangersand in 1970 againstHull City.[12]

In November 1970, several days after scoring his 100th goal in all competitions for Cardiff during a 2–1 victory over French sideNantesin theUEFA Cup Winners' Cup,[12]Toshack completed a transfer toLiverpool.The club had made several previous offers for Toshack that had been rejected however, the Cardiff City board stated that they had left the decision up to the player who chose to move clubs. Cardiff manager Scoular and board memberGeorge Edwardsboth opposed the transfer, but were unable to convince chairman Fred Dewey to block the move.[16]

Liverpool

[edit]

The deal was completed on 11 November 1970, Liverpool managerBill Shanklypaying£111,000 for the striker,[16]a club record fee at the time.[15][17]£100,000 went to Cardiff for the sale of the player while theFootball Leaguereceived £5,500 for the transfer and Toshack himself received the remaining £5,500.[16]Liverpool had resurrected a potential deal for Toshack after an attempt to signHuddersfield TownforwardFrank Worthingtoncollapsed after he failed a medical.[17][18]He made his debut three days later on 14 November 1970 in a goalless league draw withCoventry CityatAnfield.[19]His first goal came a week later on 21 November in aMerseyside derbyat Anfield. With the game 0–0 at half-time,Evertonscored two early goals just after the start of the second half beforeSteve Heighwayscored from an acute angle for Liverpool. In the 76th minute, Toshack headed a goal from a Heighway cross that turned the game around;[17]thenChris Lawlervolleyed home, after Toshack had headed on anAlec Lindsaycross, for the 84th-minute winner.[20]

Tosh was a wonderful player to play alongside. He aerial ability was fantastic and I always knew that he was going to win the high balls. From then on it was just a question of me reading which way the ball was going to go and from those situations we created many chances.

Kevin Keegancommenting on his partnership with Toshack atLiverpool[21]

In his first season at Anfield, Toshack scored seven times in all competitions but his noted aerial ability proved to be a key asset in Liverpool's style of play as it helped the side reach the1971 FA Cup Final,losing 2–1 toArsenal.[22]The following year,Kevin Keeganjoined Liverpool fromScunthorpe Unitedand the pair struck up a successful partnership, which was often referred to as being telepathic,[23]with Toshack winning balls in the air and Keegan finishing the knock downs.[22]

After defeat in the 1971 FA Cup final and missing out on the league title by a single point in 1972, Toshack won his first major honour with Liverpool in 1973 despite missing 20 league matches due to injury.[24]Don Revie's Leeds United visited Anfield onEaster Mondayfor a match involving two of the three1972–73 Football Leaguetitle challengers. Two minutes after the breakPeter Cormackput Liverpool ahead before Keegan added a late second to seal the win. With Arsenal only drawing in their match againstSouthampton,Liverpool duly closed out the title with a final game 0–0 draw againstLeicester Cityto claim their first major trophy since 1966.[25]Toshack also helped the side to win the1972–73 UEFA Cupagainst German teamBorussia Mönchengladbach.The1973 UEFA Cup Finalfirst leg at Anfield was abandoned due to a torrential downpour after 27 minutes and rescheduled to be played again the next day.[24]The 27 minutes that had been played had given Liverpool manager Bill Shankly an insight into Borussia Mönchengladbach's defensive vulnerability in the air. To exploit this, he brought tall forward Toshack into the starting team demoting the small build ofBrian Hallto appearing only as a late substitute.[26]Keegan profited with two goals set up by Toshack headers in a 3–0 win. Liverpool lost 2–0 away in the second leg but won the tie 3–2 onaggregate.[17][27]

Toshack also played in the1974 FA Cup Finalwhen Liverpool defeatedNewcastle United3–0, having scored winning goals in the quarter and semi-final matches againstBristol Cityand Leicester City.[17]However, he found himself out of the first-team at the start of the following season after the club signedRay Kennedyfrom Arsenal. Frustrated with the situation, Toshack looked to move and the club accepted a £160,000 bid from Leicester City in November 1974. Although he stated of his desire to remain with Liverpool, he was reluctant to be only playing reserve matches.[28]However, the deal later collapsed after he failed a medical and, at the age of 25, Toshack was told by specialist doctors that he only had around twelve months left to play due to mounting injuries.[29]He was able to force his way back into the first-team soon after,[17]but his training time was restricted in an effort to prolong his playing career.[29]

He won a further league and UEFA Cup double in 1976 and enjoyed his most prolific season with Liverpool, scoring 23 goals in all competitions. He ended his medal haul with a further league title in 1977 but increasing injury concerns limited his appearances and a proposed £60,000 transfer to Belgian sideAnderlechtbroke down after a medical discoveredcalcificationin some muscle tissue. Toshack eventually negotiated his release from his contract at Liverpool in order to move into management.[17]During his time with Liverpool, Toshack scored 96 goals in 247 appearances in all competitions.[17]He was voted in at No.34 on the Liverpool website poll100 Players Who Shook The Kop,in which thousands of fans worldwide voted for their top 100 Liverpool players.[30]

International career

[edit]

Toshack played for Wales at schoolboy and under-23 level before making his senior debut on 26 March 1969 in a 1–1 draw withWest Germany.[31]He scored his first senior goal in his following match, a 2–1 defeat toEast Germanya month later.[32]He was part of the Welsh side that topped theirqualifying groupforUEFA Euro 1976,scoring three times during qualifying, before losing a two-legged play-off match againstYugoslavia.[33]

He went on to earn 40 caps and scored 13 goals,[34]including a hat trick againstScotlandin the1979 British Home Championship.[35]

Managerial career

[edit]

Swansea City

[edit]

Having secured his release from his contract at Liverpool, Toshack looked to move into management and approached his former club Cardiff City over a coaching position but was rejected by managerJimmy Andrewswho questioned his qualifications for the role. Toshack instead received a phone call fromSwansea Citychairman Malcolm Struel and was invited to a meeting at the club. Following this, he was appointedplayer-managerofFourth Divisionclub Swansea on 1 March 1978,[36]becoming the youngest manager in the Football League at the age of 29.[37]SucceedingHarry Griffithswho stepped down to become his assistant,[37]Toshack's appointment was seen as a significant coup for Swansea and the crowd for his first match in charge, a 3–3 draw withWatford,more than doubled from the club's previous home match with over 15,000 in attendance.[36][38]

He overhauled numerous aspects of the club's day-to-day routine including changing players' diets, moderating their alcohol intake and revising travel arrangements for away matches.[36]He was an immediate success at theVetch Field,winning promotion from the Fourth Division in his first season in charge after finishing third.[38][37]However, the club's celebrations were muted following the death of Griffiths from a heart attack prior to a match againstScunthorpe Unitedin April 1978. Toshack praised Griffiths for his role in helping the club win promotion, stating: "Most of the hard work had been done [...], chiefly by Harry. Gaining promotion would be a memorial to him".[37]

The following season, Toshack convinced several of his former Liverpool teammates, such asIan Callaghan,Phil BoersmaandTommy Smith,to join the club. Smith and Callaghan had both received offers to stay with Liverpool, although with limited playing time, but approached Toshack over a move and would train at Liverpool'sMelwoodtraining ground before travelling to Swansea for matchdays.[37]Toshack led the club to a second consecutive promotion in 1979, sealing their place in the Second Division with a 2–1 win overChesterfieldon the final day of the season with Toshack himself scoring the winning goal that confirmed promotion after bringing himself on as a substitute.[37][39]

After finishing mid-table in their first season in the Second Division, Swansea claimed a third promotion in four seasons in 1981 after beatingPreston North End3–1 on 2 May 1981 and won the Welsh Cup for the first time in fifteen years soon after by defeatingHereford United.[40]After achieving promotion, Toshack's former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly heaped praise on his achievements, stating "he's done a remarkable job, I would say he's possibly manager of the century."[37]Once they reached the top flight, Swansea were predicted by many to be relegated, but in their first match in the First Division they claimed a 5–1 victory overLeeds Unitedafter a hat-trick from newly arrived club-record signingBob Latchford.[37][41]In recognition of his achievements at the club, Toshack was awarded an MBE midway through the season.[40]Swansea topped the league at several stages of the season, leading the division with only three months remaining, but injuries to key-players Latchford and another former Liverpool teammate of Toshack's Ray Kennedy, saw a downturn in results and they won just one of their final six matches before finishing their first campaign in the top flight in sixth position.[37][41]During this period, he was told by the Liverpool board that he was their choice to replace current managerBob Paisleywhen he chose to retire. Toshack had openly coveted the position, stating: "When I went to Swansea the thing I wanted in the long term was to end up at Liverpool".[29]However, Paisley remained longer than expected and the position eventually went toJoe Fagan.[29]Swansea were relegated the following year as the club suffered financial difficulties after relatively big spending under Toshack's tenure and then suffered a second successive relegation. He resigned in October 1983 but returned eight weeks later, remaining with the club for a further three months before departing again in March 1984.[38]The heavy spending during Toshack's years at Swansea were often cited as a key factor in the severe financial issues that affected the club, being issued with a winding up order due to unpaid debts in December 1985.[40]

European management

[edit]

In 1984, Toshack was appointed manager of the Portuguese sideSporting CP,but he only lasted one season in the post, during which he led the team to second place in the league.[42]He instead moved to Spain, taking a position as manager ofReal Sociedadwhere he led the side to victory in the1986–87 Copa del Reyand were the league runners-up in 1988.[43][44]

Although their following season was disappointing, finishing theLa Ligaseason in eleventh position, Toshack was appointed manager ofReal Madridin 1989.[44]Madrid were reigning La Liga champions having won their fourth consecutive title the previous year and their squad was described by club presidentRamón Mendozaas the "best Real Madrid side for the past 25 years".[45]Nevertheless, Toshack strengthened defensively by addingOscar RuggeriandFernando Hierroto the club's ranks, but endured a difficult start after losing to rivalsBarcelonaand being eliminated from theEuropean Cupin the second round; he was also under pressure from local press, despite leading the La Liga table after ten matches. However, the side soon discovered their form and they eventually claimed the league title after scoring a record 107 league goals during the season, becoming only the second team to score 100 or more goals during a single season at the time.[45]A disappointing start to the following season and a three-match losing streak led to him being sacked by the club after eleven matches in November 1990 and he returned to Sociedad,[46][47]initially in an advisory role, before taking charge soon after.[48]

In Spain, Toshack became known as "John Benjamin" –nicknamed "JB" –as there was a common misunderstanding that his middle name was aSpanish-style paternal surname.He was noted for a habit of literally translatingEnglish-language idiomsinto Spanish during his press conferences, to the confusion of Spanish journalists.[49]

Wales national football team

[edit]

In 1994, Toshack was appointed as manager of the Wales national team on a part-time basis, taking the job alongside his position in charge of Sociedad, after approaches forTerry VenablesandBobby Robsonwere rejected.[50]Although the ten scheduled competitive matches the team were due to play coincided with a break in Spanish league fixtures, he stated his intention that Sociedad would remain his first priority if any other international matches should clash with domestic ones.[51]He was appointed to succeedTerry Yorath,who had narrowly missed out on qualification to the1994 FIFA World Cupand had expressed his desire to remain in the role but was not offered a new contract by theFootball Association of Wales(FAW).[50]On 9 March 1994, Toshack took charge of his first game for Wales, a 3–1 defeat toNorwayatNinian Parkin Cardiff.[52]Toshack had already come under scrutiny over his commitment to the role after arriving in Wales only two nights before the match and taking a single training session with the team beforehand. With support for Yorath still strong among Welsh fans over his dismissal by the FAW, a disappointing performance against Norway saw the team jeered off at both half and full-time and Toshack resigned from the role after just 47 days in charge.[50][53]He later claimed that there was a political "war" surrounding the team following Yorath's acrimonious departure and he decided to "wash his hands" of the situation.[54]

Besiktas and return to Real Madrid

[edit]

After leaving Sociedad, he spent two years in charge ofDeportivo de La Coruña,resigning after the board signed two players without his knowledge,[55]before moving to Turkey to joinBeşiktaşon the recommendation of Bobby Robson,[55]finishing sixth in his first season in charge.[48]Although Toshack led the club to victory in theTurkish Cupin 1998, he endured a difficult time at the club, as he clashed with the board on several occasions and had threatened to quit in October 1998.[47]

In February 1999, he returned to Real Madrid following the sacking ofGuus Hiddink.Madrid agreed to pay £372,671 compensation to Beşiktaş in order to secure the move.[47]With the club in sixth position on his arrival, they eventually finished the season in fifth under Toshack. However, the start of the following season saw Madrid again struggle and, following a 3–2 defeat toRayo Vallecanothat left them in eighth position, Toshack publicly criticised his players, particularlyAlbano Bizzarricommenting that the goalkeeper conceded goals "that made me weep".[56]Toshack claimed that his words were meant as a motivational tactic and refused club presidentLorenzo Sanz's request that he withdraw his comments, saying "there's more chance of a pig flying over the Bernabeu".[56]The Real Madrid board dismissed him soon after.[57]Toshack would later take Madrid to court over his dismissal and was awarded over £700,000 in compensation.[58]

He later spent short periods with French sideSaint-Étienne,a third spell in charge of Real Sociedad and Italian teamCatania,before returning to Spain again withReal Murcia.[59]

Wales (second spell)

[edit]

In November 2004, Toshack was appointed as manager of the Wales national team for the second time after being named as the "unanimous" choice of the FAW. He was named in a three-man shortlist for the role alongside FrenchmanPhilippe Troussierand former Welsh internationalDean Saunders.[60]Toshack's appointment was unpopular with some senior players withRobbie Savageclaiming he could face a player mutiny if appointed. In total, seven players announced their international retirement within months of Toshack's appointment,[8]including Savage,[61]captainGary Speed,who had been critical of Toshack's opinions previously,[62]Mark PembridgeandAndy Melville.[63]Former Wales managerMark Hughesalso questioned Toshack's suitability for the role, stating that UEFA coaching qualifications which Toshack did not possess should be considered a prerequisite for the job.[64]

One of his first acts as manager was to placeBrian Flynnin charge of Wales' various youth levels, replacingIan RushandNeville Southall,[65]and the pair set about rebuilding an ageing squad and uncovering players with the eligibility to play for Wales, such asAshley Williams.[66]His first match in charge was afriendlyagainstHungaryon 9 February 2005 which ended in a 2–0 win for Wales, both goals being scored byCraig Bellamy.[67]His first competitive match in charge came one month later when they suffered a 2–0 defeat toAustria,where Toshack was blamed for making a late substitution with the match at 0–0 that allowed Austria into contention and conceded two late goals.[68]A second defeat to Austria four days later ended Wales' slim remaining hopes of qualifying for the2006 FIFA World Cup.[8]

In his first full qualifying campaign, Toshack's squad was plagued by withdrawals, so much so that he chose to issue a letter to 36 Welsh players for them to show "total commitment to the cause".[69]With the noted retirements and regular withdrawals, Toshack was forced to use a relatively youthful side for a difficult qualifying campaign in which Wales finished fifth out of seven teams and failed to qualify forUEFA Euro 2008.A defeat toPolandin February 2009 caused anger among supporters as captain Craig Bellamy clashed verbally with fans and a further defeat toFinlanda month later saw the side jeered off the pitch at full-time.[8]In October 2009, Wales were unable to fill a squad for a friendly match against Finland following four retirements in the months prior to the match. One of the players,Paul Parry,cited being made to feel like a "spare part" as the reason for his decision to make himself unavailable for selection.[8]

Despite mounting pressure to resign, Toshack remained in charge for the start of the next qualifying campaign. However, on 5 September 2010, he offered his resignation from the Wales job following a 1–0 away defeat toMontenegroin their firstEuro 2012 qualifyingmatch.[70]He left the job by mutual consent on 9 September 2010,[71]although he had stated his desire to remain in the job for the two following qualifying matches.[72]During his six-year tenure with Wales, a total of 18 players retired from international duty but he also handed debuts to numerous players, including many of the side that would go on to reach the semi-final ofUEFA Euro 2016.[73]

Macedonian national team

[edit]
Toshack, as Macedonia manager, at a press conference in 2011

Eleven months after resigning from his role with Wales, Toshack was appointed manager of theMacedonia national football teamon 7 August 2011.[74]However, Macedonia won one of his eight matches in charge and his contract with the national side was terminated on 13 August 2012 after he refused the request ofFootball Federation of MacedoniapresidentIlčo Gjorgioskito relocate to the country.[75]

Khazar Lankaran

[edit]

On 8 March 2013, it was announced that Toshack would take over as manager ofKhazar Lankaranof theAzerbaijan Premier Leagueon 15 March 2013.[76]At the time of his appointment, Khazar Lankaran were eighth in the league and competing in therelegation groupfor the final 10 games of the season. Toshack's first game in charge of Khazar Lankaran was a one all home draw againstAZAL.[77]Toshack's first win came in his second game in charge, a 1–2 away victory against bottom of the tableKəpəz.[78]Khazar Lankaran ended the season in eighth position, with a league record under Toshack of three games out of nine won, with an equal number of three matches drawn or lost. Toshack also guided Khazar Lankaran to the final of the2012–13 Azerbaijan Cupwith a 2–1 aggregate victory overBakuin the semi-finals, resulting in a game againstPremier LeaguechampionsNeftchi Bakuwhich Khazar lost 5–3 on penalties.[79]As a result ofNeftchi Bakuwinning both thePremier LeagueandCup,Khazar qualified for theUEFA Europa League.Toshack won his first trophy with Khazar Lankaran on 23 October 2013, defeatingNeftchi Bakuin the2013 Azerbaijan Supercup.[80][81]On 22 November 2013, Toshack resigned as manager of Khazar Lankaran, following 14 points in the first 14 games of the season, leaving Khazar in eighth place in the league.[82]

Wydad Casablanca

[edit]

On 20 June 2014, Toshack was appointed as manager of Moroccan sideWydad Casablanca.[83]He led the club to a league title in his first season in charge and a second-place finish the following year,[84]but on 16 September 2016, after suffering a heavy defeat toZamalekin the first leg of the2016 CAF Champions Leaguesemi-finals, Toshack and Wydad Casablanca parted ways.[85]

Tractor

[edit]

In June 2018, he was appointed manager of Iranian sideTractoruntil 2021.[86]He left the club in September 2018.[87]

Personal life

[edit]

On 7 June 1969, Toshack married Susan Bann fromGrangetown, Cardiff,at the age of 20 atSt John Church in Canton.[5][88]After 43 years of marriage, the pair divorced in 2012 with his wife citing "unreasonable behaviour".[88]Toshack's sonCameronis also a former professional footballer, having made five appearances for Cardiff City, and with Swansea City for the1989–90 season.[88]

In 1976, while playing for Liverpool, Toshack composed and published a book of poems entitledGosh, it's Tosh.[89][90]

In 1981, Toshack won theBBC Wales Sports Personality of the Yearand received theMBEfor his services to football in the1982 New Year Honourslist.[91][92]He was the subject of an episode ofThis Is Your Lifein 1982 when he was surprised byEamonn Andrewsat theRoehampton Clubin London.[citation needed]

On 27 February 2022, Toshack was reported to be seriously ill in a Spanish hospital, suffering fromCOVID-19.[93][94]

Career statistics

[edit]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other[nb 1] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Cardiff City 1965–66[12] Second Division 8 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 9 6
1966–67[12] Second Division 23 10 0 0 2 1 1 0 26 11
1967–68[12] Second Division 35 11 1 0 0 0 14 6 50 17
1968–69[12] Second Division 41 22 2 0 1 0 7 9 51 31
1969–70[12] Second Division 39 17 3 1 1 0 8 4 51 22
1970–71[12] Second Division 16 8 0 0 0 0 4 5 20 13
Total 162 74 7 1 4 1 34 24 207 100
Liverpool 1970–71[17] First Division 21 5 7 1 0 0 5 1 33 7
1971–72[17] First Division 29 13 1 0 1 0 3 0 34 13
1972–73[17] First Division 22 13 4 2 6 1 8 1 40 17
1973–74[17] First Division 19 5 6 3 2 2 3 1 30 11
1974–75[17] First Division 21 12 2 0 0 0 2 0 25 12
1975–76[17] First Division 35 16 2 1 2 0 11 6 50 23
1976–77[17] First Division 22 10 2 1 1 0 5 2 30 13
1977–78[17] First Division 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 9 0
Total 172 74 24 8 13 3 38 11 247 96
Swansea City 1977–78[17] Fourth Division 13 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 6
1978–79[17] Third Division 28 13 34 14
1979–80[17] Second Division 16 5 22 9
1980–81[17] Second Division 3 0 5 0
1981–82[17] First Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1982–83[17] First Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1983–84[17] Second Division 3 0 4 1
Total 63 24 78 30
Total 397 172 31 9 17 4 72 35 532 220

Managerial statistics

[edit]
Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
Swansea City 1 March 1978 8 June 1984 326 128 75 123 039.26
  1. ^Includes other competitive competitions, including theEuropean Cup,UEFA Cup,UEFA Cup Winners' Cup,Inter-Cities Fairs Cup,Welsh Cupand theCharity Shield.

Honours

[edit]

Player

[edit]

Cardiff City[13]

Liverpool[17]

Player-manager

[edit]

Swansea City[96]

Manager

[edit]

Real Sociedad[42]

Real Madrid[42]

Deportivo[97]

Beşiktaş[2]

Khazar Lankaran[2]

Wydad Athletic Club[2]

Individual honours

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^"John Toshack".Barry Hugman's Footballers.Retrieved27 January2018.
  2. ^abcdJohn Toshackat Soccerway. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  3. ^Terry Breverton (2009).Wales: A Historical Companion.Amberley Publishing Limited.ISBN978-1848683266.
  4. ^"Johk Toshack".Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database.Neil Brown.Retrieved16 February2018.
  5. ^abcdefghRhodri Owen (13 November 2004)."Mission: Control".WalesOnline.Retrieved27 January2018.
  6. ^ab"Bluebird legend's dad dies".WalesOnline.8 April 2004.Retrieved26 January2018.
  7. ^"Canton".National Museum Cardiff.Archived fromthe originalon 22 October 2016.Retrieved27 January2018.
  8. ^abcdefPhil Stead (2013).Red Dragons – The Story of Welsh Football.Y Lolfa.ISBN978-1784612368.
  9. ^Moira Sharkey (13 October 2007)."Ex-pupils are set to reunite for centenary".South Wales Echo.Retrieved8 June2012.
  10. ^"Hot Shot Toshack is Worth a" Cap "".Daily Mirror.6 December 1963.Retrieved27 January2018.
  11. ^abPaul Abbandonato (19 June 2015)."From Cardiff City and Swansea City to Liverpool FC and Real Madrid: The incredible John Toshack story in his own words".WalesOnline.Retrieved27 January2018.
  12. ^abcdefghijkShepherd, Richard (2002).The Definitive: Cardiff City F.C.Nottingham: SoccerData Publications. pp. 65–70.ISBN1-899-46817-X.
  13. ^abcHayes, Dean (2006).The Who's Who of Cardiff City.Derby: Breedon Books. pp. 187–188.ISBN1-85983-462-0.
  14. ^"Jones hails record breaker Ramsey".BBC Sport.30 April 2007.Retrieved3 May2007.
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