Post-retirement
After retiring from the pitch, Alonso opened an insurance agency. He was also a partner in several commercial ventures, even though he was not an advertising figurehead: his appeal for non-River fans was limited, and Maradona was Argentina's poster boy after his exploits in the 1986 World Cup.
Together with Merlo, Alonso coached River Plate in 1989, but the duo was dismissed mid-season when new club president Alfredo Davicce made good on an election promise to bring in Daniel Passarella as coach. River eventually went on to win the championship.
While Alonso has serious competition for the title of River Plate's greatest ever player, he is maybe the fan's all-time favorite. The chant Alooo... Aloooo... was the war cry of the Monumental stadium for years; rivals would reply with chants of their own, some of them berating Alonso, although fans of all persuasions acknowledge Beto as an elegant and effective player.
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