Rankin played as a central midfielder for Ross County, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Hibernian, Dundee United, Falkirk, Queen of the South and Clyde.
Rankin started his career at English Premier League club Manchester United but did not make any first team appearances.
[2] Whilst at the Red Devils, he was loaned out to Corinthians, along with Ben Muirhead by Alex Ferguson, to gain experience before returning to Manchester United.
However, his time there was a disaster, as he explained about how both players struggled for food whilst there: We got up one day and had our breakfast but then ate no lunch and no dinner.
The kids hung lollipops over your wing mirror if you stopped at traffic lights and if you took them off they'd ask for money.
Rankin played in 49 league matches and scored 9 goals for the Caley Jags that included a stunning last minute winner versus Rangers on 27 December 2006.
[7] The shot dipped and deceived the Celtic goalkeeper, Polish international Artur Boruc.
[7] Rankin was a candidate for the Hibs captaincy after Rob Jones left for Scunthorpe United in the summer of 2009.
[15] On 4 May 2016 it was announced that he would be one of eight out-of-contract players leaving the club at the end of the season, having not been offered a new contract.
[22] In March 2017, Rankin was appointed as the Under-17s coach at Heart of Midlothian, which he combined with his playing duties at the Doonhamers.
[23] Rankin relinquished his position as chairman of PFA Scotland in February 2018[24] and he departed the Dumfries club at the end of the 2017–18 season.