Liverpool legend and former Wales manager John Toshack is in intensive care after suffering complications in his battle against Covid.
Respected Basque daily El Diario Vasco says the 72-year-old’s condition has worsened in the last few hours after medics confirmed he was suffering “serious pneumonia.”
Toshack, who had a successful managerial career with the likes of Real Madrid and Real Sociedad, is said to be at a hospital in Barcelona where he lives with his wife Maite.
There has not yet been any official comment from his family or the hospital.
Local reports said the Welshman, who began his playing career with hometown club Cardiff City before joining Liverpool in 1970 and going on to form a brilliant partnership with Kevin Keegan, was admitted to hospital on Monday after falling ill at the weekend.
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He has reportedly been in intensive care ever since, with his oxygen levels dropping dangerously and complicating his health situation in the last few hours.
Toshack, due to celebrate his 73rd birthday in just under a month, is understood to have been fully vaccinated against Covid.
He had a back operation several months ago but his health until his admission to hospital intensive care had been described as good.
Respected Spanish daily ABC said that before he was put on a ventilator to help him with his breathing.
The former footballer, son of a Scots-born carpenter who moved to Wales while serving in the RAF where he met and married Toshack’s mum Joan, has been on a ventilator since Saturday according to El Diario Vasco.
His wife is understood to be at the unnamed hospital with him.
This afternoon, a tweet from the official Liverpool account said: "The thoughts of everyone at #LFC are with John Toshack and his family. Keep fighting, John."
Toshack helped Liverpool to win two league titles, the European Cup, the UEFA Cup on two occasions, the FA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.
His partnership with Keegan was so effective that the two were described as telepathic.
He led Swansea City to three promotions in four seasons after leaving Liverpool to join Swansea City as player-manager in March 1978.
His feat resulted in former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly describing him at the time as the ‘manager of the century.’
He enjoyed two spells as Wales manager after managing clubs including Sporting, Real Sociedad and Real Madrid.
He has a son called Jon Cameron, a former footballer and a Welsh professional coach, with former wife Susan.
Toshack, due to celebrate his 73rd birthday in just under a month, is understood to have been fully vaccinated against Covid.
He had a back operation several months ago but his health until his admission to hospital intensive care had been described as good.
Respected Spanish daily ABC said that before he was put on a ventilator to help him with his breathing, he told his wife he wanted to eat pan-fried hake with rice which he used to love eating when he lived in the Basque city of San Sebastian.
Toshack has lived in Spain for nearly 40 years.
In an interview in 2019 in which he criticised Real Madrid striker and fellow Welshman Gareth Bale for not learning Spanish, he said: “The majority of Welsh people come to Spain on holiday.”
Responding to a question about why he resisted the idea he was retired, despite not managing since leaving Iranian side Tractor in September 2018, Toshack said: “That word needs to be removed from the dictionary. When they put the lid on your box under the ground you’re retired but not until then.”
