The solid midfielder was a virtual ever-present under Paatelainen as the 2007/08 season drew to a close
Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen beat St Mirren and Falkirk to the signature of this former Manchester United trainee who was snapped up in January 2008 for £110,000 from Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Rankin spent three years at Old Trafford but found himself a long way down the United pecking order and eventually moved to Ross County in search of first-team football in 2003.
A modern box-to-box midfielder who isn’t afraid to shoot from distance, Rankin was signed to add some much-needed bite to the Hibs midfield.