Prva HNL |
Rukavina previously spent five seasons playing for NK Pomorac in the Croatian Druga HNL and played for KF Skënderbeu Korçë and KS Kastrioti in Albanian Superliga.
He was the head coach of Croatian Third League side NK Žminj in 2002 and 2003, going on to move to Croatian Second League side NK Pula in early 2004, helping them to clinch promotion to the Croatian First League for the 2004–05 season.