FOOTBALLERS WIVES hunk Christian Solimeno is switching sides to become a footie hooligan.

The Earl's Park love rat is best known for his steamy romps as Jason Turner in the smash-hit ITV series. But he'll now be steaming into rival fans when he tackles his toughest role yet as a soccer yob.

The 27-year-old will pull on his Doc Marten's with Mission Impossible star Dougray Scott in The Football Factory.

Tough guy Sean Bean and ex-Bad Manners singer Buster Bloodvessel will also appear in the movie which has been adapted from John King's best-selling novel.

The argy-bargy book sent shockwaves through soccer when it was released in the run-up to Euro '96.

Christian said of the movie: "It's about a group of friends growing up in west London, but it's also a history of England.

"It tackles racism, football violence, the breakdown of relationships. It has such depth as a piece of writing."

The film's central character, Tom, is a vicious soccer casual who lives for Saturday soccer brawls. His club colours and rucks with rival fans on Saturdays are more important than his family, his job and the score of the game.

The raw descriptions of violence and sex made King's book a cult novel among soccer fans.

The movie is currently being shot in London and South Africa following production hiccups before Christmas.

Christian is also set to beef up his image in real life by getting a Bull Mastiff bitch.

He said of the rock-hard breed: "They're lovely, sweet animals, calm and good with children.

"I'm going to call her April because I like the idea of this quite hard looking bloke with a hard-looking dog, but one done up with a girly pink bow and stuff.

"And that's the dog I'm talking about!"