Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden was quick to pay tribute to his side after their emphatic Super Bowl demolition of the much-fancied Oakland Raiders.

Gruden moved from Oakland to the Bucs on a five-year contract for $8m plus four high-draft picks, and the coach paid back every cent with a perfect game plan.

The NFL's top-rated defence produced an awesome display to totally overshadow their opponents' offence, but the modest Gruden refused to take the credit.

"My part in the defence was all overrated," he said. "That's all down to our players. We've got a great defensive club."

He came from heaven and he brought us to heaven Bucs owner Malcolm Glazer

Gruden's tactics singled out Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon for special treatment, and the training sessions - in which Gruden imitated Gannon - certainly paid off.

Gannon, the NFL's regular-season MVP, was intercepted five times, and three of the interceptions were run in for Bucs touchdowns.

"I've got great respect for Rich Gannon as a quarterback. I wanted our team to just get a feel for what it was going to be like with him in command," said Gruden.

"He's a special guy and I wanted them to try to feel it a little bit.

Fans run riot

Police in Oakland used tear gas and rubber pellets to subdue unhappy Raiders fans after Sunday's defeat Three firemen sustained minor injuries and scores of vehicles were damaged by people throwing rocks and bottles A total of 65 people were arrested

"I am so happy for our players. For us to come here as a new staff and new team and win the Super Bowl speaks volumes about the city of Tampa and our team."

Bucs owner Malcolm Glazer was delighted with the win and picked out the 39-year-old Gruden as the crucial ingredient.

"He came from heaven and he brought us to heaven," he said. "We were waiting for the right man, and the right man came."

Gruden - nicknamed 'Chucky' - also drew praise from his players.

"Everybody was saying we paid too much for him," said placekicker Martin Gramatica. "We'd give a lot more."

Wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson was equally impressed with his coach.

"His leadership is unbelievable," he said. "He's worth every penny."

Gannon is nailed by the Bucs defence

But Gannon was not convinced that Gruden's inside knowledge was the key to the Bucs' success.

"I don't know if that was a major factor," said Gannon.

"I just think their defence played really well. We were absolutely terrible - it was a nightmarish performance."

And Raiders coach Bill Callaghan blamed his players for failing to adapt to the pressure exerted by the Bucs.

"I really felt it was us - it was our fault," he said.

"We didn't play up to our capability. We weren't as good as we've been in the past."