 Born in Kleve, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rauffmann moved at the age of 16 to FC Amberg, a local team playing in the Fußball-Oberliga, but only managed to stay a season there before moving to the seventh level.After five years in the amateur leagues he returned to the club, now as a semi-professional.In 1991, Rauffmann signed for SpVgg Blau-Weiß 1890 Berlin which at the time was playing in the second division.