Happy, victorious, but perhaps nursing a few hangovers, the champions of Europe Manchester United returned to England this evening.

Ryan Giggs held the Champions League trophy aloft as the team descended the steps from the plane at Manchester Airport to the cheers of staff and fans who had gathered to greet them.

Champions of Europe: Ryan Giggs holds the Champions League trophy aloft as the team arrive back at Manchester Airport

Rio Ferdinand followed Giggs off the plane carrying the Premiership Trophy as Alex Ferguson applauded his players.

Around 400 people had gathered at the airport for the delayed flight carrying the team from Moscow.

Homecoming: The players pose for a team photo after leaving the plane before boarding a coach on which Ronaldo shows off the silverware

The players posed for photographs before being ushered onto a coach and heading out of the airport.

The coach ride out of the airport surrounded by applauding fans may be the closest the team will come to a victory parade after it was announced an open top bus parade through Manchester will not take place in light of the riots in the city last week.

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Triumphant return: Coleen McLoughlin arrives back in England after watching her future husband's team's succeed in Moscow

Victory parade: Fans cheer the team as a coach takes them from the airport

The homecoming came after many of the footballers had been up celebrating their win until 8am.

Many of the footballers still wore their winning medals as they emerged from the bar at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Moscow after hours of partying.

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Front row seats: Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo with the trophies

Even manager Alex Ferguson burned the midnight oil to join his players celebrating their victory over Chelsea in a match that went all the way to the wire.

Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar,  whose save of Nicolas Anelka's penalty clinched the cup, was one of the players looking some what worse for wear at 8am.

'We won!': Defender Nemanja Vidic keeps a glass of wine in hand as he steps outside the party to make a phone call

Match winner: Goalkeeper Van der Saar, whose penalty save clinched the game, emerges at 8am still with a drink in his hand

He clutched a glass of champagne as he stumbled bleary-eyed from the party room set aside at the hotel for the champions.

Ryan Giggs, Owen Hargreaves and Rio Ferdinand were also among the players who drifted from the celebration and back to their rooms as the sun came up.

Wobbly Wag: John O'Shea had to help his partner back to their room after she left the party unsteady on her feet

But it was John O'Shea's partner who seemed to have been the worst casualty of the drinking session.

An on-looker said she "was all over the place and nearly fell down the stairs" as he led her back to their room.

Champions: Carlos Tevez, Ryan Giggs and Owen Hargreaves all emerge from the party still wearing their medals

The players would have had little sleep as they flew back to Manchester later the same day.

They arrived at Manchester Airport just after 9.30 tonight.

But a victory parade on an open top bus through the streets of Manchester will not be held for the champions.

The club's chief executive said they had decided not to hold a victory parade after consultation with the city's council and police force.

Managing to party: Alex Ferguson celebrated with the players

Celebrations: Rio Ferdinand leaves the party at 8.20am

He said it was "unfortunate" a parade would not take place but the decision had been made in light of the riots in Manchester last week during the UEFA Cup Final between Rangers and Zenit St Petersburg.

But he said the club would find an alternative way for the city to celebrate United win in Europe and the Premiership over the summer.