But Tottenham's stars defied manager Harry Redknapp's Christmas bash ban as they partied in London on Wednesday night.
And true to form, defender Ledley King once again managed to let his hair down further than his team-mates and was snapped looking very worse for wear as he left the Movida nightclub.
Let's get you home, son: Tottenham Hotspur star Ledley King is escorted from the Movida nightclub after the team's Christmas party
The 30-year-old, who is currently out with a groin injury, had to be helped out of the central London nightspot by a couple of bouncers as he emerged bleary-eyed in the small hours of this morning.
Once settled in his car, he looked as though he was trying to stay sitting up, but succumbed to the heavy night and slowly keeled over and slumped on the back seat.
He was joined at the bash by team mates Gareth Bale, William Gallas, Luka Modric, Tom Huddlestone, Younes Kaboul, Rafael van der Vaart, Alan Hutton and Vedran Corluka.
Going: Ledley stares ahead as he tries to sit up straight in the back of his car...
Going: He starts to wobble as he leans back in the seat...
Gone: It's all too much for the defender as he succumbs to the late night and slumps over
And while they didn't also leave the club until about 3.30am, they looked fresher-faced than their injured team-mate.
Although Bale tried to duck behind Van der Vaart as they left and Hutton tried to hide his face as he got in his car, maybe fearing the wrath of Redknapp when they arrive for training tomorrow.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that the gaffer had banned his players from celebrating this Christmas.
Party boys: Van der Vaart, Bale - hiding his face - Modric and Corluka share a laugh as they leave the nightclub
'Harry will be saying there are no Christmas parties,' said Spurs first team coach Joe Jordan. 'We have a lot of greattraditions (in this country) but the Christmas parties is one we have to forget.'
Redknapp warned his players of his stanceagain after the debacle over players' festive celebrations last year. Then, a group of players left the manager fuming by going to Dublin to party after being told such events were banned.
He was left embarrassed by news of the trip emerging after he publiclyannounced his ruling and the 16 players on it each had to make charitydonations of £20,000 as their punishment.
Boys night out: Tom Huddlestone, his ankle in a support after an operation on it and Younes Kaboul, looking very dapper in his suit, arrive at the club
He will not tolerate a repeat. 'The players will be reminded,' said Jordan. 'It is something he wants them to stay away from. Going out as agroup of players at this stage of the season brings on what you don't want. We have moved on.
Ledley could have been drowning his sorrows after he was banned from driving for 56 days for speeding at 105mph in his Mercedes.
He admitted speeding but claimed he was doing no more than 95mph and wasalso fined £800 as well as an additional £100 for having tinted windowsthat were too dark.
Calling it a night: Van der Vaart and Bale get into their waiting car and head home
Peek-a-boo: Hutton smiles as he tries to hide under his jacket
Wrapping up: Gallas had the good sense to wear a hat and scarf against the cold as he left the party
Explore more:People: William Gallas, Harry Redknapp, Younes Kaboul, Luka Modric, Alan Hutton, Gareth Bale, Ledley King, Tom Huddlestone Places: London, Dublin
Source: Daily Mail
Source: Daily Mail