sport news West Ham stars prepare for departure with silverware in tow as Declan Rice ... trends now
West Ham stars have landed back in England with the Europa Conference League title in tow ahead of tonight's open-top bus parade through London.
The Hammers triumphed over Fiorentina - and ended their 43-year wait for a major trophy - after a late Jarrod Bowen strike wrapped up a 2-1 win for them in Prague.
Celebrating players might feel slightly hungover after they were pictured partying until the early hours of Thursday morning in the wake of their historic victory.
Some wore spectacles on the flight home from Prague, possibly hiding the weary eyes of a hangover, but Hammers captain Rice was all smiles as he prepared to board the plane back to England.
The European trophy was passed around the cabin as players and staff posed for pictures ahead of touching down back on home turf with the piece of silverware.
Declan Rice holds the Europa Conference League trophy as he prepares to board the plane back to England
FIrst-team players huddled around Kurt Zouma (middle with trophy) to pose for a pre-departure pic
Rice (middle) snapped a celebration picture with team-mates Lucas Paqueta (right) and Emerson Palmieri (left)
Lucas Paqueta and Emerson Palmieri posed with Rice while appearing relatively chipper despite their late-night antics in the Czech capital.
Hammers goalkeeper Areola, Maxwel Cornet, Said Benrahma, and other first-team members then huddled round a beaming Kurt Zouma who was clinching the trophy.
Players will no doubt use time on the two-hour flight to catch up on sleep after reports suggested the Hammers players and staff were out until 9:15am but Rice took to social media to show fans he was well rested, as well as showing off the Conference League trophy.
In a morning post on his Instagram page, Rice shared an image of himself in bed and kissing the Conference League trophy, with the caption: 'Good morning'.
The England international sported a backwards cap and his Conference League winners medal as he lay in bed clutching onto the tournament's trophy.
It was his second picture posted onto social media, in the wake of the victory, having shared a selfie of himself and the trophy on the pitch shortly after the final whistle.
And despite parting until the early hours
