 IFK Kristianstad was founded on 7 November 1899 as a multi-sport club by Adolf Johnsson, a secondary school pupil from Broby.Johnsson was the first chairman of the club.The club previously had sections in field handball, football, cycling, athletics and gymnastics as well as women's handball, but has only been a men's handball club since 2000 when the other sections formed separate clubs due to IFK Kristianstad's financial troubles.