John Toshack
Full name: John Benjamin Toshack
Date of birth: March 22, 1949 (age 58')
Place of birth: Cardiff, Wales
Nickname: Tosh
Playing position: Striker
Current club: Wales (Manager)
Senior clubs:
Cardiff City (1966-1970) Appearances: 162 Goals: 74
Liverpool (1970-1978') Appearances: 246 Goals: 96
Swansea City (1978-1984) Appearances: 63 Goals: 25
National team:
Wales (1969-1980) Appearances: 40 Goals: 12
Teams managed:
Swansea City (1978-1984)
Sporting CP (1984-1985)
Real Sociedad (1985-1989)
Real Madrid (1989-1990)
Real Sociedad (1990-1994)
Wales (1994)
Deportivo la Coruña (1995-1997)
Besiktas (1997-1999)
Real Madrid (1999)
St. Etienne (2000-2001)
Real Sociedad (2001-2002)
Calcio Catania (2002-2003)
Real Murcia (2004)
Wales (2004-)
John Toshack started his footballing career with Cardiff City F.C., signing for them as a 16 year old. After four years at Cardiff City, he was signed by Bill Shankly for Liverpool F.C. on the 11 November 1970, already a full international, Shankly paid £110,000 for the giant striker. 'Tosh' made his debut 3 days later on the 14th in the goalless league draw with Coventry City at Anfield. His first goal came a week later on the 21st in a remarkable Merseyside derby at Anfield. With the game 0-0 at half-time Everton thundered into a 2-0 lead just after the start of the second half. 69 minutes in Steve Heighway pulled a goal back, this seemed to spring the Reds into life, Toshack's goal in the 76th minute completely turned the game around, then when Chris Lawler prodded home the 84th minute winner the fans almost lifted the roof off the Kop. Toshack's goal instantly made him a hit amongst the Anfield faithful, which was a good thing as they had initially voiced their concerns in paying so much for the Welshman.
In 1971 a little known player by the name of Kevin Keegan joined the Reds from Scunthorpe United and the rest, as they say, is history. Toshack and Keegan struck up an almost telepathic partnership with 'Tosh' winning everything in the air and Keegan finishing the knock downs. They were a delight for commentators as their names rolled off the tongue easily, one famous piece of commentary by David Coleman went "Toshack, Keegan, one nil!" Such was their fame, the football magazine Shoot likened them to the comic book crimebusters Batman and Robin even taking a photograph of the pair dressed in the dynamic duo's costumes! By the time Keegan left for German side Hamburg SV he had scored exactly 100 goals with a great percentage of them being set up by Toshack.
During his time with Liverpool Toshack scored 96 goals, he was part of the team that won the Football League Championship in 1973, 1976 and 1977, the FA Cup in 1974, and the UEFA Cup in 1973 and 1976. He played for the Welsh national football team at schoolboy, under-23 and full international level earning 40 caps and scoring 12 goals, includig a hat trick against Scotland in the 1979 British Home Championship. However, his playing career was blighted by injuries and he was transferred to Swansea City A.F.C. as player-manager in 1978' (he already passed his coaching badge at the age of 18'), where he succeeded Harry Griffiths.
John Toshack