The club was started by a group of 14- to 15-year-old youngsters who wanted not just to play football for fun but also to create an organisation and participate in the national league system.

Originally they played under the name BK Kick, but that name had already been taken by another club, and so when they applied to join the Gothenburg Football Association, their local FA, they renamed themselves Bollklubben Häcken, referencing the hedge (sv: häck) which grew around the field where they practised.

However, during the game at Gamla Ullevi, BK Häcken sets the club record for biggest home audience with 19 205.

The time that BK Häcken spends in Allsvenskan is however short, the club's successful manager Agne Simonsen leaves for a local competitor and Reine Almqvist takes over, the club ends up last in the league and is relegated back to Division 2 where they play for the rest of the 1980s.

1992 is more successful as they reach Allsvenskan through a 4th place in Kvalsvenskan and this time the spell in the top league is not as short as earlier, BK Häcken ends up on in 6th place in 1993 and gets to play a second year in Allsvenskan, however the club ends up last in the league in 1994 and following some turbulence on the leadership side of the club it stays in Division 1 until 1997 as the club ended up in 2nd place and qualifies for the play-offs against Västerås SK, with a 1–1 home and with a 4–2 away BK Häcken climbs up to Allsvenskan again.

2001 BK Häcken plays its sixth season overall in Allsvenskan but ends second last and is relegated to Superettan, through a cooperation with Floda BoIF future Liberian national Dulee Johnson arrives at the club and in 2002 and he gets company from Jimmy Dixon and Dioh Williams.

During this season, the Ghanaian striker Waris Majeed scored 23 goals, which made him the Allsvenskan top scorer of the year.

In 2019, Häcken secured their second main title, as they beat AFC Eskilstuna in the final of the Svenska Cupen with 3–0 at Bravida Arena.

[3] On 11 May 2023, BK Häcken won the Swedish Cup for the third time, by defeating Mjällby AIF, 4–1 in the final game at Strandvallen.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.