Elvira Todua Biography

Elvira Zurabovna Todua (born 31 January 1986) is an Abkhazian Russian football goalkeeper who plays for Rossiyanka of the Russian Women's Football Championship. With Rossiyanka she has won two Top Division titles and two Russian Women's Cup winners' medals. She has also represented the club in the UEFA Women's Champions League.

Todua became the Russia women's national football team's first-choice goalkeeper after making her debut in 2003. She competed at the UEFA Women's Championships in 2009 and 2013.

National team career

Russia

Todua made her debut for the senior Russia women's national football team in a 2003 friendly against China. She was named in the tournament All-Star Team at the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship.

She was part of the victorious Russian team at the 2005 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship in Hungary. When the final against France went to a penalty shootout, Todua scored Russia's sixth penalty herself then saved Laure Boulleau's attempt to secure the win.

In qualifying for UEFA Women's Euro 2009, Todua played in Russia's play-off win over Scotland. She was named in national coach Igor Shalimov's squad for the final tournament. After missing the first two matches with a knee injury, Todua was restored to the team for Russia's final match: a 2-0 defeat by Italy. She was left disappointed by Russia's early exit.

Four years later Todua overcame a shoulder injury to take her place in the squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2013 in Sweden. Russia lost 3-1 to France but drew 1-1 with both England and Spain. They were eliminated after losing out to Denmark on the drawing of lots.

Todua took painkilling injections in order to play but underwent surgery on her injured shoulder after the tournament.

Abkhazia

In June 2012 Todua made a late substitute appearance in the male Abkhazia national football team's first ever match: a 2-1 friendly win over Russian club FC Krasnodar.

Personal life

Todua was born in Tkvarcheli, but moved to Novocherkassk in Russia when she was seven, due to the War in Abkhazia (1992-93).

In 2011 Todua's club Rossiyanka attracted attention for a bikini photoshoot. Pin-up girl Todua has also been featured in various magazine modeling assignments. A national newspaper declared her amongst Russia's 20 most beautiful athletes in 2009.

Honours

Club

WFC Rossiyanka

• Top Division (2): 2010, 2011-12
• Russian Women's Cup (2): 2009, 2010

International

Russia

• UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship (1): 2005

Individual

• FIFA Women's World Under-19 Championship All-Star Team (1): 2004