John Toshack
Ten years after quitting the job following just one game in charge, John Toshack was reappointed as Wales’s manager for a second time in 2004 – and remained in the positoion for a numebr of years before standing down for the second time
Discovered at Cardiff City FC, he was to make his name following a move to Liverpool FC in 1970 and at Anfield he won league titles in 1972/73, 1975/76 and 1976/77 and the UEFA Cups in 1972/73 and 1975/76. Throughout most of that period he was paired with Kevin Keegan in a fearsome attack that delivered many memorable goals.
In 1978 he was transferred to Swansea where he continued a as a player and then becoming manager, leading them to three promotions in succession and into the English top division. Impressed with this success Sporting Clube de Portugal tempted him to Lisbon to become their coach in 1984 and he left the shores of Wales to start his European journey.
It was to be the start of a long foreign coaching odyssey as Toshack coached Real Sociedad de Fútbol to 1986/87 to a Spanish Cup success and then won the Spanish title as Real Madrid CF coach in 1989/90, with his side scoring a Spanish record 107 goals in the process. Spells at RC Deportivo La Coruña, Beşiktaş JK, AS Saint Etienne and a second spell at Madrid followed before Wales called again.
Armed with a five year contract John Toshack focused on the finals of the UEFA EURO 2008™ in Austria & Switzerland as his first objective. In Group D Wales were given a tough draw and in the same group as the Republic of Ireland under Steve Staunton – both sides failing to make the finals.
For the 2010 World Cup in South Africa Wales made a promising start winning 1–0 and 2-0 against Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein. However, they lost their next game against Russia in Moscow, 2-1, after Joe Ledley had briefly drawn them level.
The qualifying campaign showed promise when the team managed to prevent Germany from scoring for 74 minutes of their match in Mönchengladbach, but the match eventually finished 1–0 to Germany. But the Two 2–0 home defeats by Finland and Germany in Spring 2009 effectively put paid to Wales' hopes of qualification.
In EURO 2010 qualifying group Wales were drawn with Montenegro, Bulgaria, Switzerland and England – losing their opening game to Montenegro 1-0.
Following the setback Toshack said he had been prepared to continue until after next month's qualifiers against Switzerland and Bulgaria. However, after last Friday's defeat in Montenegro, it was felt in the best interests of the national side that he should leave now.
Managerial record
Swansea City 1978-1984 (resigned October 1983, re-appointed December 83)
Sporting Lisbon 1984-1985
Real Sociedad 1985-1989
Real Madrid 1989-1990
Real Sociedad 1991-1994
Welsh National Team 1994 (one match)
Deportivo de La Coruña 1995-1997
Besiktas JK 1997-1999
Real Madrid 1999
St. Etienne 2000-2001
Real Sociedad 2001-2002
Calcio Catania 2002-03
Real Murcia 2004
Welsh National Team 2004 - September 2010
Titles
La Liga 1989/90
Copa del Rey 1987
Supercopa 1995
Turkey Cup 1998
Welsh Cup 1981, 1982, 1983
