Estonia coach Aleksandra Ševoldajeva on the value of the UEFA Women's Under-17 EURO

Ševoldajeva led the host nation at the tournament in 2023, before stepping into her current role as the senior team head coach in November 2024.

With the 2025 UEFA Women's Under-17 EURO kicking off in the Faroe Islands on 4 May, Ševoldajeva shared how hosting the tournament benefited the women's game in Estonia by offering invaluable experience to young players.

Aleksandra, the UEFA Women's Under-17 EURO in 2023 has been the most significant tournament of your career so far. Estonia lost all three games, but what were the positives? 

The challenges were huge, but the team had many great moments. We were proud of how we played, even though we were in a very tough group with the European and world champions. It was really hard for us, but there were a lot of good moments both individually and as a team.

What do young players gain from participating in these tournaments? 

It really tests you as a person and a player. It's the toughest environment against the strongest opponents. Yes, it can feel too hard and overwhelming, but for a country like Estonia where the sport is still young, it's essential to challenge yourself. Being outside your comfort zone, mentally and physically, is how you grow.

Life is full of different types of change and challenges, and these experiences help players deal with those, both on and off the pitch. So, for us the main thing was that we stood up against great challenges as a team at the tournament.

There are a lot of young players in Estonia's senior team. Why is this? 

The current group of younger players are really good. They are already at the same level as the older players. That shows that youth development has improved over the last ten years.

Estonia head coach Aleksandra Ševoldajeva at the 2023 European Women's Under-17 ChampionshipUEFA via Getty Images

Please could you tell us about the start of your football career in 2002? 

I think I started even a bit earlier. I went to football practice because I liked the game very much. I think I saw a tournament, maybe UEFA EURO 2000. At the time, I was playing tennis, but I decided I wanted to try a team sport. I really liked the energy and teamwork of football.

I enjoyed how the Netherlands played at the EURO back then. I told my parents I wanted to try it, and my dad had a colleague who was coaching – including coaching girls – at the time. Everything just aligned and I quickly got into training.

What was women's football like in Estonia back then and how does it compare to the current day? 

The biggest difference is definitely the number of players. Nowadays, there are a lot more players, and everything is more organised across different competition levels. Back then, we had the top league and girls' tournaments. Now, you have structured youth leagues like Under-15 and Under-17, so the whole system has grown and the level has improved significantly.

And, briefly, what are your hopes for the future of the women's national team? 

The main goal is to make the most of our players' and team's potential and capabilities.