Liverpool among clubs to wish support to hospitalised John Toshack

Liverpool, Swansea and Cardiff have wished their former striker John Toshack well after reports that he has been in intensive care in a Barcelona hospital.

According to the Spanish newspaper El Diario Vasco, the 72-year-old was hospitalised on Monday with severe pneumonia after contracting coronavirus and since Saturday has been on a ventilator. Toshack played for Cardiff before his hugely successful spell in the 1970s with Liverpool, and was then player-manager of Swansea.

Liverpool posted on Twitter on Sunday afternoon: “The thoughts of everyone at LFC are with John Toshack and his family. Keep fighting, John.”

Cardiff tweeted earlier in the day: “Keep fighting, Big John. Sending all of our love and best wishes to you and the family.”

Swansea posted: “The thoughts of everyone at Swansea City are with John Toshack and his family. We are all with you. Keep fighting.”

The former Wales international spent five years with Cardiff before moving in 1970 to Liverpool, who he helped win a glut of trophies including three league titles, two Uefa Cups and an FA Cup.

He scored 96 goals for the Merseyside club and formed a lethal partnership with Kevin Keegan. Toshack then moved to Swansea in 1978 as player-manager and oversaw their rise through the Football League with three promotions in four seasons.

The management career that followed included two stints in charge of both Real Madrid and Wales. Real posted their own message of support on Twitter, writing: “Real Madrid, its president and its board of directors wish to send a message of support and affection to our dear John Benjamin Toshack, who we send courage and strength to in these moments.”