After playing several years in the lower leagues, Rubio signed with Real Madrid in 1998, spending the vast majority of his spell in the Segunda División B with the reserves.
He made his only appearance for the first team in the 1998–99 edition of the Copa del Rey, against Valencia CF: after a 6–0 away loss, he featured in the second leg, an insufficient 2–1 win.
In January 2000, he was released by Madrid and joined CD Toledo also of Segunda División[2]– both clubs would be relegated at the end of the season, the former due to financial irregularities.
Rubio spent his first year in top-flight football with Portugal's S.C. Farense, playing less than half of the Primeira Liga games as his team finished in 13th position.
[5] He then made history by becoming the first ever Livingston player to score in a European competition, when he netted a header in the club's first game, a 1–1 draw at FC Vaduz (eventual away goals rule qualification).