'This cup is yours!' Spain celebrates Euro cup title

MADRID, Spain - Hoisting their coach in the air and singing "We Are the Champions," Spain's victorious soccer players returned home Monday to hundreds of thousands of joyous fans ready to celebrate the European title.

The players emerged from an open-top bus to form a conga line toward a stage at Colon Square. After tossing 69-year-old coach Luis Aragones several times, they gathered around captain Iker Casillas and the European Championship trophy to belt out the song by Queen to mark the country's first major soccer championship in 44 years.

"This cup is yours," Casillas screamed to the crowd before turning the microphone to the "one man who got us where we are today, Luis Aragones."

Even the normally melancholy Aragones was overcome by emotion and joined the singing of "A Por Ellos" ("Let's Go Get Them"), one of the team's theme songs since the 2006 World Cup.

"If I couldn't manage the quality of players that we have here, then it would be impossible to win the euro," he said. "Why? Because we have the best team in the world."

Aragones will resign as Spain's most successful coach despite repeated pleas to stay from his players Monday. He reiterated there was "zero possibility" of that happening.

Goalkeeper Pepe Reina began the official celebrations with a resume of each of the 23 players before surrendering the microphone.

"Without you guys, we wouldn't have been able to win this," said striker Fernando Torres, whose 33rd-minute goal Sunday gave Spain its 1-0 win over Germany on Sunday in Austria.

The team unfurled a banner honoring Genaro Borras, the longtime team doctor who died shortly before the start of euro 2008. Spanish singer Manolo Escobar led a version of "Vive Espana" (Long Live Spain).

The plane carrying the team - emblazoned with the freshly painted word with "Campeones" (champions) - touched down at Madrid's Barajas airport at 7:40 p.m. with a bus waiting to take them to the center of Madrid.

Casillas and Aragones first emerged from the plane, each with a hand on the trophy before Casillas handed it over to his coach for a lift.

"I'm a man who doesn't show great emotions ... but listening to the players, I'm feeling emotional today," Aragones said.