From Zidane to Zidane: A timeline of Real Madrid's turbulent period of managerial drama

How the Frenchman has ended up back at the Bernabeu for a second spell, and where it went wrong for Lopetegui and Solari

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  Real Madrid president Florentino Pere, right, presented Zinedine Zidane as manager at the Bernabeu in Madrid in January 2016. They together forged a very successful partnership. Victor Lerena / EPA

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  Cristiano Ronaldo formed a hugely successful partnership with Zinedine Zidane during their time at Real Madrid. Gabriel Bouys / AFP

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  Zidane had the benefit of a team laden with superstars all peaking at around the same time, too. Gabriel Bouys / AFP

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  Zidane with the Champions League trophy in Cardiff in 2017 after Real Madrid beat Juventus in the final. Peter Powell / EPA

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  Zinedine Zidane celebrates his second Champions League title in 2017. Eddie Keogh / Reuters

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  Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after winning the FIFA Men’s Player of the Year award, while Zinedine Zidane won Coach of the Year award in London in 2017. Eddie Keogh / Reuters

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  Zidane led Real Madrid to the Fifa Club World Cup title in Abu Dhabi in 2017, but not before getting a massive scare from Al Jazira in the semi-finals. Amr Abdallah Dalash / Reuters

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  Zidane received the Best Coach of the Year Award from Abdullah Khalifa Al Merri during the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai in 2017. Reem Mohammed / The National

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  Zidane with his third Champions League title after Real Madrid beat Liverpool in Kiev in 2018. Genya Savilov / AFP

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  Zidane stood beside president Florentino Perez as he announced his resignation in Madrid on May 31, 2018. Pierre-Philippe Marcou / AFP

It has been a dramatic past 10 months in the managerial hotseat at Real Madrid.

It began with Zinedine Zidane in charge and it ends with the Frenchman back at the Bernabeu.

But between that, the La Liga side have seen both Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari come and go in what has been one of the most turbulent times in the club's recent history.

Here is a timeline of how things have unfolded for the club and how they ended up back with the man that had guided them to so much success before he decided to step away.

Real Madrid beat Liverpool – May 26, 2018

Zidane and Real win a third successive Uefa Champions League as they defeat Liverpool 3-1 in Kiev.

This follows their 2016 triumph against city rivals Atletico Madrid and then Juventus in 2017.

Zidane becomes only the third manager to win a hat-trick of European Cups, but the first to win three in succession.

Zidane resigns as manager – May 31, 2018

In a shock move, Zidane resigns as manager of the club, having won nine trophies in total in a successful reign that began in January 2016.

He said at the time: "Everything changes and that's why I've taken the decision to leave.

"I think it's the right time. I think the players need a change but I should thank them because at the end of the day it's them that fight out there and this is a club of very high expectations."

Julen Lopetegui appointed as manager – June 12, 2018 

There is controversy as Real appoint Spanish national team manager Julen Lopetegui to replace Zidane, just three days before the Fifa World Cup is scheduled to start in Russia.

The Spanish Football Federation fires Lopetegui from his role, being unhappy they had not known about Real's approach for him until the deal had been completed and was set to be made public.

Cristiano Ronaldo exits for Juventus – July 10, 2018

Following Zidane out of the door of the Bernabeu is Portuguese forward Ronaldo.

The man who had played a huge part in Zidane's success, as well as Real's as a whole since joining from Manchester United in 2009, departs for Juventus.

The deal is for a reported €112 million (Dh462.3m), but they are losing a man who scored 311 times in his time at the club, and predictably filling that void is always going to be a tall order.

Lopetegui is fired – October 29, 2018

Real Madrid have a dismal start to the season. Lopetegui's first competitive game ends in a 4-2 loss to Atletico Madrid in the Uefa Super Cup.

Although they win their first three league games, they only triumph in one of their next seven and a humiliating 5-1 loss at Barcelona in the first clasico of the season on October 28 proves to be Lopetegui's final game in charge.

Santiago Solari steps in – November 13, 2018

Solari, who has been manager of Real's reserve side, is initially appointed as interim manager to replace Lopetegui.

Rules in Spanish football mean that a club can only have someone in a caretaker role for no more then two weeks. After winning his first four games in charge, with 15 goals scored in that time, Real appoint him as permanent manager on a contract that runs until 2021.

Solari's trophy delight in Abu Dhabi – December 22, 2018

Only a little more than a month after getting his contract, Solari wins his first trophy as Real win the Fifa Club World Cup in the UAE.

The defending champions retain their title with a 4-1 win over Al Ain in the final at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi to give Solari some silverware.

Ajax nightmare at the Bernabeu – March 5, 2019

Results have begun to dip for Solari after an initial resurgence, and there is talk of disharmony in the dressing room, particularly around Welsh striker Gareth Bale.

Having been knocked out of the Copa del Rey in the semi-finals by Barcelona, and then losing to their arch-rivals again at the weekend, a shocking week for the club is concluded as they are humiliated by Ajax in the Champions League.

They had gone into the second leg of the last-16 tie leading 2-1 but are thrashed 4-1 to end their hopes of winning the tournament for a fourth time in a row.

Goodbye Solari, hello Zidane again – March 11, 2019

With all hope of further trophy success in the 2018/19 season effectively gone, Real Madrid choose to act.

Solari is fired from the role and Zidane agrees to return to the club, signing a deal that lasts until June 2022.

His first game back in charge will be on Saturday against Celta Vigo at the Bernabeu.